Ex-Plateau Speaker, 14 others caught in money laundering web

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Moses Sule, a former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, along with 14 former lawmakers, on charges of money laundering and abuse of office.

The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 19, by its spokesman, Mr. Dele Oyewale, in Abuja.

It said the arrests were made by operatives from the Commission’s Makurdi Zonal Directorate on Tuesday.

Oyewale revealed that the arrests were prompted by multiple petitions submitted by concerned citizens in Plateau State, who accused the former lawmakers of financial misconduct during their time in office.

Oyewale explained that the former legislators allegedly violated the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and were also implicated in procurement irregularities.

He explained that other lawmakers arrested alongside Sule included Gwottson Fom, Sani Abubakar, Jwe Gwom, Timothy Dantong, Happiness Akawu, and Cornelius Doeyok.

Oyewale listed others to include Agbalak Ibrahim, Danjuma Azi, Fwangje Ndat, Salome Waklet, Namba Rimuyat, Nimchak Rims, Ishaku Maren and Paul Datugun.

“Investigation showed that the former legislators spent only six months in office, and the state government bought several luxury vehicles for them in their official capacities.

“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,” he said.

Oyewale said the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

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