EFCC Arrests Ex-Plateau Speaker, 14 Former Lawmakers For ‘Fleeing With Official Cars’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Moses Thomas Sule, the former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, along with 14 other former lawmakers.

They are being investigated over claims of misusing public resources, particularly around how government vehicles were handled.

Those arrested include Gwottson Fom, Sani Abubakar, Jwe Philip Gwom, Thomas Dantong, Happiness Mathew Akawu, Cornelius Dotyok, and Agbalak Ibrahim.

Others are Danjuma Azi, Fwangje Bala Ndat, Salome Tanimu Wanglet, Namba Rimuyat, Nimchak Rims, Ishaku Maren, and Paul Datugun.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the arrests followed petitions from concerned citizens of Plateau State.

The allegations involve possible violations of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022, as well as irregularities in how government purchases were made.

“Investigation further showed that the said vehicles are valued at N2.5 billion. Upon leaving office, the vehicles were meant to be returned to the state government but were taken away by the legislators and all efforts to retrieve them have proved abortive.

“The state government had to procure another set of vehicles for the present members of the House of Assembly valued at about N2 billion.

“The former speaker and other members will soon be charged to court,” the statement reads.

Back in November 2023, a Court of Appeal had already sacked these lawmakers from office.

The court ruled that they were not properly nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the party’s structure in Plateau State had been deemed invalid since 2020.

This ruling effectively meant the PDP had no legal ground to sponsor candidates in the 2023 elections.

Meanwhile , the EFCC re-arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, before the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.