By Atoyebi Nike
Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has taken into custody former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Moses Thomas Sule, alongside 14 of his colleagues, over alleged financial improprieties involving luxury vehicles allocated during their brief time in office.
The arrests follow complaints lodged by members of the public accusing the former lawmakers of contravening the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and engaging in irregular procurement activities during their tenure.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the development on Thursday, stating that the suspects served in the Assembly for only six months but were provided with expensive official vehicles by the state government.
Further investigations revealed that the vehicles-collectively valued at around ₦2.5 billion-were never returned upon their exit from office. Efforts by the state government to reclaim the cars reportedly failed, prompting fresh procurement of another fleet worth about ₦2 billion for the current Assembly members.
Among those arrested are: Gwottson Fom, Sani Abubakar, Jwe Philip Gwom, Thomas Dantong, Happiness Mathew Akawu, Cornelius Dotyok, Agbalak Ibrahim, Danjuma Azi, Fwangje Bala Ndat, Salome Tanimu Wanglet, Namba Rimuyat, Nimchak Rims, Ishaku Maren, and Paul Datugun.
“These individuals were provided official vehicles during their time in office, but they failed to return them, which led to a duplication of procurement at great cost to the state,” Oyewale said.
The agency confirmed that the suspects are currently being interrogated and will be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded.
