The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Moses Thomas Sule, alongside 14 former lawmakers, over allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of the EFCC’s Makurdi Zonal Directorate on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, following petitions from concerned citizens in the state.

According to a statement released by the commission, the former legislators allegedly violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and were also implicated in procurement irregularities.

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The 14 others arrested alongside Sule include 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.

The statement read, “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.

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“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 anti-graft agency said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Department of State Services informed the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that the National Broadcasting Commission did not licence the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to import the radio transmitter allegedly smuggled into Nigeria to operate Radio Biafra.

The fourth prosecution witness, a DSS official identified as Mr DDD, stated this during his testimony in the ongoing terrorism trial of Kanu, instituted by the Federal Government.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the witness testified that after he and his team recovered the transmitter from a premises in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra State, they transported it to Abuja. Subsequently, the DSS contacted the NBC to inspect the device.

The witness said that on November 9, 2015, NBC sent an engineer to inspect the transmitter, who subsequently issued a report. Awomolo tendered a certified true copy of the provisional assessment report on the transmitter as evidence.

Reading from the report, the witness stated that the transmitter was German-made and designed for FM frequency broadcasting. The report further indicated that such equipment could only be legally procured and installed with a valid licence, which Radio Biafra did not have.

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The DSS investigation revealed that to operate a radio station in Nigeria, an applicant must obtain a licence from the NBC after receiving clearance from relevant security agencies. “In this case, the defendant [Kanu] neither applied for nor received any approval. He illegally imported the transmitter,” the witness asserted.

The witness added that the investigation confirmed Kanu owned the transmitter, which he stored at the residence of one Benjamin Madubugu. Kanu later inspected the transmitter and recorded a video to assure IPOB members who had contributed funds for its purchase.

In further testimony, Mr DDD claimed IPOB’s armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, was responsible for between 170 and 200 deaths of security personnel in the South-East.

He recounted a statement from an ESN member, Uzuoma Benjamin, alias Onye Army, who allegedly described directives from Kanu to attack and kill security agents and bury a deceased IPOB commander, Ikonso, with 2,000 human heads.

The witness said IPOB’s activities included the 2021 Owerri prison attack, allegedly orchestrated by Kanu, and provided accounts of ESN members engaging in human sacrifices for “spiritual fortification.”

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The witness read that Onye Army claimed that he and other members of his group used the heads of 10 girls to prepare charms for their protection.

He said that when the DSS requested from the police to access Onye Army, the police claimed he had escaped from custody.

He added that during one of DSS agents’ raids on ESN members’ hideouts, “we saw some ESN members, about seven, with human heads and some eating human flesh, which they said was for spiritual fortification.

“We could not find Onye Army. The police said he had escaped from custody,” the witness told the court.

On how the ESN members operate, the witness said they are combatants who carry arms and attack homes of prominent individuals and traditional rulers in the region.

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He said that because they lacked sufficient operational tools, they sometimes set up roadblocks during which they hijacked vehicles for their operations.

Regarding the May 30, 2021 killing of Ahmed Gulak, a former presidential aide, the witness recounted being among the first responders. He claimed Gulak was killed at an IPOB checkpoint after he failed to speak the Igbo language convincingly.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness admitted there was no record of the transmitter’s importation and that he could not confirm when it was brought into the country. He revealed the transmitter was located using video analysis tools and was later recovered from Anambra State.

He also denied knowledge of certain individuals and companies allegedly involved in clearing the transmitter. The court was further informed that the transmitter was allegedly imported by one Igwe Anyiba, who resides abroad.

The witness added that two firearms were recovered from beneath a mattress on Madubugu’s property, and the latter was charged with unlawful possession of firearms.

Following the conclusion of the cross-examination, the court discharged the witness. Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case until June 20, for the prosecution to call its fifth witness.
(PUNCH)

A Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, presided over by Justice Peace Otti, has sentenced a 34-year-old schoolteacher to 12 years’ imprisonment for defiling his 11-year-old male JSS 1 student.

The defendant, Pascal Ofomata, was charged with rape and inflicting physical harm punishable under Section 3(1) and 4(1), respectively, of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and the offence of Sexual Abuse punishable under Section 35(2) of the Child’s Right Law of Anambra State.

Ofomata, a teacher at St Christopher’s Junior Seminary, 3-3 Onitsha, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.

However, during the trial, the court evaluated evidence, including testimony from the investigating police officer and the medical doctor who examined the victim.

Although he denied penetrating the boy, Ofomata admitted to acts amounting to sexual abuse, according to his police statement.

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Delivering judgment, Justice Otti convicted the defendant and sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment.

In the court documents obtained on Wednesday, the court also barred him from working in any institution involving minors, including primary, secondary, and tertiary schools.

Justice Otti commended the lead prosecutor, Chinelo Akorah of the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, for her diligence and professionalism in handling the case.

“The lead Prosecutor’s final address was compelling and comprehensive. It was rare for cases of sexual offences against boys to receive a conclusive end and justice served to offenders,” Otti said.

Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, expressed satisfaction, adding, “The Anambra State justice system is one that delivers nothing short of justice. This case is a rare push for justice for the boy-child and awareness that boys too can be victims of sexual violence.”