Ex-Speaker Dimeji Bankole’s passport was seized yesterday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The commission obtained a court warrant after which it sent a team of operatives to search Bankole’s 8, Clapperton Street, Asokoro Quarters, Abuja, home.
The ex-Speaker was allowed access to a lawyer, Margaret Onyema.
Bankole, who was arrested Sunday night, underwent about four hours interrogation.
He was questioned about how the House spent N25billion between January and March; his alleged involvement in the N2.3billion car scam; and abuse of due process and corrupt practices associated with the N9bilion capital budget of the House of Representatives for 2008/2009 session among others.
A source in the commission said: “During interrogation, a lot of allegations were put before him and he wrote his statement to respond to all these issues.
“One of the issues we are seeking clarification from the Speaker on is how N25billion was spent by the House within three months.
“According to records available to the EFCC, the House received its statutory budget allocation of N15.3billion on January 24, 2011 and two days later, it secured the controversial N10billion loan for allowances.
“The Speaker has been asked to explain how N15.3billion was spent within two days. We want to know the whereabouts of the budgetary allocation.
“Bankole will also explain his alleged involvement in the N2.3billion car scam; and abuse of due process and corrupt practices associated with the N9bilion capital budget of the House of Representatives for 2008/2009 sessions among others.
“After his initial statement, our operatives also asked him some follow-up questions but we are not done with him yet.
“We may still engage Bankole on Tuesday on other issues and certain gaps in his statement.
“So far, the ex-Speaker is in safe custody but his traveling documents have been impounded pending the conclusion of our investigation.
“So far, the ex-Speaker is in safe custody but his traveling documents have been impounded pending the conclusion of our investigation.
“In the interim, the ex-Speaker cannot travel out of the country except with the consent of the EFCC and eventually a court if he is arraigned in court.
“But a special team went to conduct a thorough search in his house to retrieve some vital documents.
“We made sure that we conducted the search in the presence of his counsel, Margaret Onyema, so that she can take a proper inventory of what we retrieved.
The Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed the seizure of Bankole’s passport.
He said: “It is part of the process. As soon as we are through with the process of interrogation, we will release his passport.
“The search on his house is normal to conduct such a search during a high-profile investigation like this. And that was done with a valid search warrant from a court.
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Splendid. When the populace cannot afford #200. a day wage, our elected lawmakers spend #15.5b in 2days. Only GOD will save us in this country.
ReplyDeletemay almighty God deliver us from this hungry politicians who are always looking for some monies to loot, whereas civil servants are just pleading for the implementation of #18,000 naira minimum wage, which nobody knows if it is to be effected by next year by the way things are moving. well as par non politicians take, but let them know that what goes around, comes around. let them think of our coming generation, it will become a going concern, never to stop until CHRIST comes.
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