N750m car scam: EFCC may seize Benue speaker’s property.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, may seize landed property in Abuja and Makurdi allegedly traced to the embattled Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Terkimbir Ikyange, worth N350 million as part of its investigation on the alleged N750 million car scam.



A highly placed source at the commission, at the weekend, told Nigerian Pilot that EFCC operatives have started initiating the move through the forfeiture order as stipulated by law.

The source said the process is ongoing, following the rejection by the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, over a proposed plea bargain.

According to the source, the embattled speaker had proposed to start refunding N72.5 million.
The source hinted that apart from the N500 million allegedly traced to a new generation bank, there is a fresh petition on how he allegedly diverted N86 million meant for the purchase of biometric machines.

Already, there is pressure on the speaker to resign over the fraud allegation hanging on his neck.
Member representing Logo State Constituency, Dr. Terna Kyenge, attempted last week to draw the attention of the House to the battered image and embarrassment that the speaker has caused them over the alleged car scam. This led to his suspension for daring to raise the issue of the EFCC on the floor of the House.

Nigerian Pilot sent an SMS and called the speaker to get his reaction on the latest development, but he neither picked nor replied the sms.

The EFCC had allegedly refused the plea bargain proposal by the embattled speaker and 14 other lawmakers.
Already, the legal Department of the EFCC are currently working on charges against the lawmakers bordering on fraud, forgery and theft that will be filed before a Federal High Court in Makurdi, immediately after the annual vacation of judicial officers (judges).
The commission had three weeks ago, grilled some members of the House over alleged looting of public funds.

Source Nigerian Pilot