The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday expanded its investigation of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, by quizzing some erstwhile principal officers of the House.
Their interrogation coincided with the refusal of a Federal High Court in Abuja to grant bail to the embattled former speaker.
Bankole was arraigned before the court on alleged N894m contracts fraud in the House. He pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge read before him.
One of our correspondents learnt that the former principal officers — Usman Nafada, Baba Shehu-Agaie,Tunde Akogun, Suleiman Kawu, Mohammed Bello and Ali Ndume — were quizzed on the N10bn loan scandal that rocked the House in the twilight of its tenure.
The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said they (former principal officers) were invited to explain what they knew about the loan.
It was learnt that the passports of the former House leaders were seized by the anti-graft agency before they were allowed to go.
The N10bn loan is one of the three cases that the Ogun State-born ex-speaker is being investigated by the anti-graft agency.
Bankole had made startling revelations that the former principal officers were the major beneficiaries of the loan.
He had claimed that Nafada and himself did not benefit from the controversial loan.
However, the travails of the former speaker continued on Wednesday as he was arraigned by the EFCC at the FHC Abuja.
He was remanded in the anti-graft agency’s custody till Friday (tomorrow) when the court will hear a formal application for his temporary freedom.
Before the adjournment, Justice Donatus Okorowo, advised Bankole’s lawyers led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) to serve the application on the prosecution.
The EFCC lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, had opposed an oral application to grant bail to Bankole on the grounds that he tried to evade arrest before he was apprehended by the anti-graft agency.
He stated that a written application was necessary to prevent Bankole from trying to flee the country.
Bankole, who was brought to the court amidst tight security by the EFCC operatives at about 8.30am, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge.
Dressed in a white caftan and a pair of leather slippers, Bankole was also accmpanied by a retinue of aides, friends and political associates.
Bankole was arrested at his Asokoro residence in Abuja by about 10 operatives of the EFCC. The next day, the agency slammed a 16-count charge of contract inflation amounting to N894m against him.
The agency said Bankole and other principal officers of the House ‘now at large’ hiked the cost of vehicles, television sets and office equipment purchased by the House in 2008.
It stated that the items comprised three Mercedes Benz S-600 cars, two Range Rover SUVs, 400 television sets, 100 units of photocopying machines, computer units, scanners and other accessories.
The commission, in the charge sheet with reference No.FHC/ABJ/CR/47/11, said the action contravened some sections of the Public Procurement Act No. 14 of 2007.
The other two ‘deals’ for which Bankole is being quizzed by the EFCC are a N10bn loan which the former House used to increase the quarterly allocations of its members from N28m to N42m and the alleged mismanagement of its N9bn budget for 2008/2009.
Meanwhile, Awolomo has faulted the mode deployed by operatives of the EFCC in Bankole’s prosecution.
He specifically complained that the incident was blown out of proportion by the national and international media even when the trial was yet to commence.
The ex-Speaker had also alleged that the anti-graft agency was making plans to clamp down on his members of his family.
The former speaker, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Bakare, had accused the commission of subjecting him to psychological torture by refusing him access to his lawyers and family members since Sunday night.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayTheir interrogation coincided with the refusal of a Federal High Court in Abuja to grant bail to the embattled former speaker.
Bankole was arraigned before the court on alleged N894m contracts fraud in the House. He pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge read before him.
One of our correspondents learnt that the former principal officers — Usman Nafada, Baba Shehu-Agaie,Tunde Akogun, Suleiman Kawu, Mohammed Bello and Ali Ndume — were quizzed on the N10bn loan scandal that rocked the House in the twilight of its tenure.
The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said they (former principal officers) were invited to explain what they knew about the loan.
It was learnt that the passports of the former House leaders were seized by the anti-graft agency before they were allowed to go.
The N10bn loan is one of the three cases that the Ogun State-born ex-speaker is being investigated by the anti-graft agency.
Bankole had made startling revelations that the former principal officers were the major beneficiaries of the loan.
He had claimed that Nafada and himself did not benefit from the controversial loan.
However, the travails of the former speaker continued on Wednesday as he was arraigned by the EFCC at the FHC Abuja.
He was remanded in the anti-graft agency’s custody till Friday (tomorrow) when the court will hear a formal application for his temporary freedom.
Before the adjournment, Justice Donatus Okorowo, advised Bankole’s lawyers led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) to serve the application on the prosecution.
The EFCC lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, had opposed an oral application to grant bail to Bankole on the grounds that he tried to evade arrest before he was apprehended by the anti-graft agency.
He stated that a written application was necessary to prevent Bankole from trying to flee the country.
Bankole, who was brought to the court amidst tight security by the EFCC operatives at about 8.30am, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge.
Dressed in a white caftan and a pair of leather slippers, Bankole was also accmpanied by a retinue of aides, friends and political associates.
Bankole was arrested at his Asokoro residence in Abuja by about 10 operatives of the EFCC. The next day, the agency slammed a 16-count charge of contract inflation amounting to N894m against him.
The agency said Bankole and other principal officers of the House ‘now at large’ hiked the cost of vehicles, television sets and office equipment purchased by the House in 2008.
It stated that the items comprised three Mercedes Benz S-600 cars, two Range Rover SUVs, 400 television sets, 100 units of photocopying machines, computer units, scanners and other accessories.
The commission, in the charge sheet with reference No.FHC/ABJ/CR/47/11, said the action contravened some sections of the Public Procurement Act No. 14 of 2007.
The other two ‘deals’ for which Bankole is being quizzed by the EFCC are a N10bn loan which the former House used to increase the quarterly allocations of its members from N28m to N42m and the alleged mismanagement of its N9bn budget for 2008/2009.
Meanwhile, Awolomo has faulted the mode deployed by operatives of the EFCC in Bankole’s prosecution.
He specifically complained that the incident was blown out of proportion by the national and international media even when the trial was yet to commence.
The ex-Speaker had also alleged that the anti-graft agency was making plans to clamp down on his members of his family.
The former speaker, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Bakare, had accused the commission of subjecting him to psychological torture by refusing him access to his lawyers and family members since Sunday night.
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Yes, Mr former speaker you deserve every bit of treatment the anti-graft agency is doing to you.You are a disgrace to all the youths in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteThe erstwhile Honourable Speaker may be as guilty as accused or alledged,but the sensetional attitude of the media as well as the vindictive approach or the anti graft agency are utterly condemnable to say the least.
ReplyDeleteUneasy lies the head that wears the crown they say but its not when the wearer neglects the weight of the crown and behaves uncomely. So Mr former speaker brace up this is the morning tea. EFCC will serve you a 9-course meal. Can we leaders learn from this?
ReplyDelete