The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is planning to arraign 14 lawmakers of the Benue state House of Assembly.
The EFCC was interrogating some members of the House over the alleged looting of N750 million meant for purchase of cars, when it reportedly traced N500 million to the account of the speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange.
A source at the commission disclosed that the fresh sum was successfully traced through EFCC’s intelligence unit as well as some confessional statements made by the deputy speaker of, James Ikefe, who has reportedly been making useful statements to the agency.
The source also revealed that the disbursements of the N750 million was personally carried out by the deputy speaker adding that a fresh investigation has commenced against the speaker.
The source said that after the arraignment of the 14 members before a federal high court in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, the speaker would be invited by the EFCC.
Governor Samuel Otorm had last week commended the EFCC, saying: “Yes it is a good thing, it is part of the process. They are under investigation by the EFCC.
“From day one I brought up a slogan that ‘if you chop money, money will chop you.
“We have to be careful and I have sent signals to all that nobody is above the law. If you do wrong, you will go your own way. As far as I’m concerned, they are under investigation.
“From myself as governor and every other lieutenant, we are open to scrutiny.”
“EFCC is an agency that is charged to investigate and where somebody is found culpable you prosecute. So they are free to do their job in Benue state.”