Date Published: 06/08/11

EFCC invites Nafada, Akogun, Ali Ndume
*As Bankole pleads not guilty, remanded in custody

Dimeji Bankole, Former Speaker, House of Representative (in white) flanked by EFCC Operatives at the Fed. High Court, Maitama, Abuja, where he is being arraigned by the EFCC for alleged misappropriation of public funds.

Following confessional statement made by embattled former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited all principal officers who served with him in the House of Representatives.
This is coming as Bankole, who was arraigned at a Federal High Court in Abuja, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge of fraud, embezzlement and contract inflation.

He was remanded in prison pending the outcome of his oral application for bail. A source at the EFCC told Pointblanknews.com that former Deputy Speaker, Usman Nafada, former House Leaders, Tunde Akogun, Baba Shehu Agaie, Sulaiman Kawu, Bello Mohammed and Senator Ali Ndume, were invited by the commission in respect of allegations leveled against the former speaker.

“The following principal officers of the 6th House of Rep were invited to make statements over some of the allegations leveled against ex-speaker, Bankole.“They are Usman Nafada, Baba Shehu Agaie, Sulaiman Kawu, Bello Mohammed, Tunde Akogun and Senator Ali Ndume. They are likely to be granted bail after interrogation later today”, the source said.
Mr. Bankole was arraigned before Justice Donatus Okorowa at the Federal High Court 7 in Abuja, the nation’s capital, on a 16-count charge bordering on fraud related offences, including inflation of contracts to the sum of N894 million.

After pleading not guilty to the charges, Mr. Bankole, through his counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, made an oral application to be granted bail. He also accused the anti-corruption commission of utilizing the media to persecute the embattled former lawmaker who was arrested last Sunday evening at his Abuja residence.

But counsel to the EFCC, Festus Keyamo, opposed the bail on the basis that the application for bail by the accused should be by written submission. He also refuted the accusation that Mr. Bankole was being persecuted, stating that the media was an independent institution not under the control of the EFCC.

Justice Okorowa after listening to both parties ordered Mr. Bankole to be detained in the custody of EFCC till June 10, 2011 pending when his application for bail would be entertained. He also warned the media against sensational reporting of the case, and set July 26 and 27 for commencement of trial.

Mr. Bankole, who kept a quiet mien and dressed in a white attire, was later escorted out of the court by EFCC operatives. In a telephone call, the EFCC spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said further charges against the former Speaker would soon be filed.

“In the first 24 hours after his arrest, he did not cooperate with our investigations. It was only later he started to, and which is what led to him being charged today,” Mr Babafemi said. “But these are just the initial charges. More charges are to come as investigations are ongoing.”

It is believed Mr. Bankole would also be charged in relation to a N10 billion loan obtained from a Nigerian bank, involving the questionable use of the parliament’s accounts as collateral.