Alleged vehicle scam: Tension as EFCC arrests lawmakers
– Four lawmakers, comprising of two from the PDP and two from the APC have been detained over an alleged vehicle scam
– The arrest has been condemned by a pressure group under the aegis of New Benue Proactive Movement (NBPM)
– The chief press secretary to the speaker of Benue House of Assemby, Bem Abunde, ascribes the arrest of the four lawmakers to their refusal to return their proceeds of the shared money for the vehicles
There is tension in Benue state following the arrest of four members of the state House of Assembly by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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The Nigerian Pilot reports that the detained lawmakers are Kester Kyenge (PDP) representing Logo state constituency, Terkaa Ucha(PDP); Tiev, Ngunan Adingi (APC); Buruku and Terseer Adzuul (PDP) Guma state constituency respectively.
The arrest of the legislators by the anti-graft agency was said to be connected to an alleged vehicle scam amounting to N750 million involving the speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange (APC), the deputy speaker, James Okefe and other APC Assembly members which, the PDP lawmakers had queried.
The arrest has been condemned by a pressure group under the aegis of New Benue Proactive Movement (NBPM).
NBPM described the arrest of the law makers as being politically motivated, noting that the car purchase scam had not only involved the detained lawmakers and wondered why only four of the legislators would chosen to be detained.
The leader of the group, Nder John, in a reaction insisted that the PDP lawmakers in custody of the anti-graft agency should be charged to court over whatever offense they might have committed and not be kept in the EFCC detention.
He also called for arrest of the speaker and other lawmakers involved in the car purchase scam.
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However, the chief press secretary to the speaker, Bem Abunde ascribed the arrest of the four lawmakers to their refusal to return their proceeds of the shared money for the vehicles which, he said all other members of the Assembly have started refunding their alleged loot.
Recall that barely two months ago, there was chaos at the Benue state House of Assembly on Tuesday, July 19, as proceedings degenerated into fisticuffs between lawmakers over an alleged 750 million naira car fraud.
According to Channels TV, the fracas was fueled by an alleged probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into the purchase of cars for the lawmakers.
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