THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, quizzed six principal officers that served with former Speaker of the House
of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole, leaving out his successor-in-office, Aminu Tambuwal, former Deputy Chief Whip and Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who was Chief Whip under Bankole.Commission’s spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, while confirming the interrogation of the affected persons, said that “they were invited over cases where their names featured.”
When asked why the new Speaker was exempted, he said it was not about those who served in the leadership but those whose names were mentioned in certain cases being investigated by the anti-corruption commission.
When asked for the specific case(s) which led to the interrogation of the affected persons, he declined.
Those quizzed and released on administrative bail, on Wednesday, included former Deputy Speaker, Usman Bayero Nafada; former leader, Tunde Akogun and his deputy, Baba Shehu Agaie; former Deputy Minority Leader, Sulaiman Kawu; former Minority Leader, who is now a senator, Ali Ndume and Bello Mohammed.
Tambuwal as the chairman, House Committee on Budget, was said to have recommended the increase in members’ allowance from N27 million to N42 million, which led to the N10 billion bank loan that landed Bankole in EFCC’s detention.
The purchase of the items that led to Bankole’s trial was also said to have had the imprint of Tambuwal, while he was also said to have been neck-deep in the controversial purchase of the Peugeot cars which culminated in the N2.3 billion car scam.
It is yet to be seen how the commission would handle the aspect of the cases involving him and his deputy.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the remand of former speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, in the EFCC custody, pending the hearing and determination of his bail application tomorrow.
Bankole was arraigned by the EFCC on a 16-count criminal charge bordering on contract inflation to the tune of N894 million.
The former speaker arrived at the court at about 8.45 a.m in a coaster bus with registration number BR 39 BWR, in company with operatives of the EFCC and security operatives, in white attire, beaming with smile.
Before the charge was read, counsel for Bankole, Adegboyega Awomolo, who led three others and about 15 lawyers told the court that his client would take the plea on protest.
Awomolo further stated that they were not comfortable at the way and manner by which EFCC arrested their client.
Reacting to Awomolo’s submission, the prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, said the arrest was conducted that way because the accused had resisted arrest for several weeks, adding that the intelligence report revealed that he was about escaping from the country.
The 16-count charge was later read to the accused and he pleaded not guilty to all.
The prosecution counsel later requested for a day for trial and prayed the court to remand the accused in the EFCC custody, adding that he was needed for some other matters.
Awomolo, in his submission, informed the court that they were ready for trial, but moved an oral application to admit the accused to bail, stating that the accused was entittled to bail, having taken his plea.
But Keyamo objected to the oral application, urging the court to order the defence counsel to come formally.
In his ruling, the trial judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo, adjourned the matter till 12 noon tomorrow to hear the bail application.
He further fixed July 26 and 27 for trial.
However, Justice Okoro-wo warned the prosecution to manage their comment since the matter was before the court.
Source : Nigerian Tribune
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