– Plateau state’s Governor Simon Lalong once hid from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for 16 hours – In 2006 the EFCC sought to question him over allegations of corruption, abuse of office, fraudulent conversion of funds and money laundering – At the time of the incident, Lalong was the speaker of the Plateau state house of assembly  August, 25, 2006 is a day Plateau state’s Governor Simon Lalong will not forget in a hurry. Lalong, who was then the speaker of the Plateau state house of assembly was arrested alongside his deputy, Usman Zumunta Musa.

After several hours, around 7pm, the late Chief Solomon Lar, who was then regarded as Plateau state’s godfather, showed up at the court premises asking to see any of the judges. The judges were not available. The late Chief Lar also made efforts to engage the EFCC operatives, but none of them granted him an audience and he left afterwards. The EFCC operatives later called for reinforcements. The court premises were surrounded by mobile policemen and Lalong and Musa were arrested. Later that month, the EFCC arraigned the two men and five other members of the state assembly before the court on a 21-count charge of corruption and money laundering. They were however granted bail on September 14, 2006 after which both men were impeached in a process that was later squashed by the courts.

The ordeal of Lalong was well documented in a book by a Nigerian journalist and author, Wale Adebanwi, named ”A Paradise for Maggots”.

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Lalong’s 2006 encounter with EFCC officials