The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said that the chairman of Biliri local government, Gombe state, Mr. Rabenson Zebulum Wasa was arrested in connection to a multi-million naira fraud case for which the council boss has been under investigation since December 2008.

The Commission in a statement yesterday said the clarification had become necessary to dispel insinuations that the arrest of  the council boss was politically motivated and at the instance of Senator Ajuji Waziri.          “The Council boss was arrested on December 1, 2008 and granted administrative bail same day. His arrest followed a duly signed petition by Tangale Youth Forum, Biliri,” EFCC said, adding: “The petitioners had alleged that the Chairman upon assumption of office in 2007, engaged in reckless acquisition of houses and cars with council funds as well as the  use  of  council funds to buy honorary degrees and chieftaincy titles.

“Initial investigation had confirmed  that the Chaiman did engage in the diversion of public funds to make cash purchases of houses and cars.Our findings had also established that the council boss  had been using forged receipts to retire multi-million naira purchases he unilaterally made for the council in total breach of  due process.

“In the  process of investigating the council boss, more petitions containing serious allegations of fraud against Mr. Wasa were also received by the EFCC. The fresh petitions are still being investigated.