Posted by From David Molomo, Yola on
Four members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly are allegedly under investigation over the purchase of stolen equipment worth billions of naira belonging to GSM operators in the state.
Four members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly are allegedly under investigation over the purchase of stolen equipment worth billions of naira belonging to GSM operators in the state.
An armed robbery syndicate in the state reportedly linked the four lawmakers to the theft. The office of the Inspector General of Police is said to be handling the case in Abuja so as to avoid any untoward development.
Sunday Sun learnt at the weekend that the syndicate had stolen and sold heavy equipment, including generators and other assorted properties of certain GSM operators in the state, to the lawmakers, who are said to be in the forefront of the impeachment notice on Governor Murtala Nyako.
Our investigation revealed that the Inspector General of Police office directed that the case be transferred to Force Headquarters to avoid unlawful interference by the alleged lawmakers.
A source at the Adamawa Police Command told our reporter that several attempts had been made by the lawmakers involved in the illegal purchase to scuttle the case but that they met stiff resistance at the command, hence the transfer of the case to Abuja.
Although the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Altine Daniel, confirmed the transfer of the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Force Headquarters, he however refused to comment on the involvement of the four lawmakers as, according to her, the case was under investigation.
But she said the persons mentioned in connection with the purchase of the stolen GSM equipment from the suspected armed robbers would be brought to book irrespective of their status.
It would be recalled that four lawmakers of the state House of Assembly and a local government chairman were recently investigated by the Adamawa Police Command over their alleged involvement in the purchase of generator sets belonging to GSM service providers allegedly stolen by a gang of armed robbers.
The culprits who were arrested and held by the police in Yola were said to have revealed the names of some of their accomplices, including the legislators and a council chairman.
A police source informed that the lawmakers were arrested but were quickly released on bail while the other suspects were still being held.