There is tension in major towns of Benue state over arrest of four members of the Benue State House of Assembly by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian pilot has gathered.
The minority leader of the Benue state House of Assembly, Alhaji Audu Sule who confirmed the arrest yesterday to Nigerian pilot however, said he “has just been briefed and will address the press shortly.”
The lawmakers detained by the anti-graft agency are KesterKyenge (PDP) representing Logo state constituency, Terkaa Ucha(PDP); Tiev, NgunanAdingi (APC); Buruku and TerseerAdzuul (PDP);Guma state constituency respectively.
The detention, it was gathered is not unconnected to the alleged vehicle scam amounting to N750million involving the speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange (APC), the deputy speaker, James Okefe and other APC Assembly members which, the PDP lawmakers had queried.
Nigerian pilot Recall that the EFCC had, barely two months ago, invited to Abuja and detained the speaker and other principal members of the House over diversion of the approved N750 million appropriated on contract for purchase of official vehicles for the 31 members of assembly.
A pressure group under the aegis of New Benue Proactive Movement yesterday faulted the arrest of the lawmakers and described it as politically motivated. It noted 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.
But according to leader of the group, Nder John, in a reaction insisted that instead of keeping the PDP lawmakers in custody of the anti-graft agency for several days, they should be charged to court over whatever offense they might have committed. He also called for arrest of the speaker and other lawmakers involved in the car purchase scam.
However, the chief press secretary to the speaker, Mr. Bem Abunde has said the four lawmakers were arrested because they had refused to bring back their proceed of the shared money for the vehicles which, he said all other members of the Assembly has started refunding their alleged loot.
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