Date Published: 06/03/11

Bankole defies EFCC, to appear on Monday...Inspector-General Ringim is curious "surety"

Outgoing Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, has officially informed the Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC), he will be at their interrogation room next Monday, to say all he knows about the multi-billion naira graft allegation hanging over his head.

His excuse is , he would have to handover to the new House leadership before he appears at the EFCC. Bankole was this morning engaged in a tense stand-off with officials of the EFCC at his home, as he refused to grant audience to the EFCC operatives who stormed his Apo quarters residence before 6am.

Pointblanknews.com learnt that the move by EFCC was to thwart alleged plot by Bankole to skip to the United Kingdom early Friday morning for what his aides said was for “emergency medical checkup”

It was gathered that a curious twist to the tale was the sudden appearance of Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, who ordered the EFCC operatives to back off. It was however not clear if the presidency was aware of Ringim’s master stroke.

It was gathered that while the EFCC men laid siege, Bankole went into his bathroom to put a call through to Ringim, who responded in a matter of minutes.

Bankole’s call was made few minutes after the EFCC operatives called him (Ringim) to prevail on the police men , and state security service officers, attached to Bankole to back off, to avert an imminent confrontation.

 Pointblanknews.com also learnt that Ringim stood ‘surety’ for Bankole, assuring them (EFCC), he would be their guest on Monday.

In a written statement, Bankole’s spokesman, Mr. Idowu Bakare, denied that the former Speaker had planned to leave for the United Kingdom today, claiming he had instead scheduled meetings in Abuja and Lagos for the weekend as part of his valedictory activities from the House.