THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, filed a 16-count criminal charge against the embattled former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He is to be arraigned before Justice Donatus Okorowa, of the Federal High Court 7, Abuja by 9.00a.m today.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who perfected the filing process at about 3:50 p.m, yesterday, said that the Commission has concluded plans to file two separate criminal charges against the ex-Speaker, sequel to fresh revelations he allegedly made to operatives of the anti-graft agency who have been grilling him since the past two days ago.
Embattled former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole
Bankole was arrested on Sunday night by EFCC operatives who stormed his residence at the Asokoro district of Abuja barely three days after he had presided over a valedictory sitting of the House.Insinuations on alleged role in N10bn scam
Though insinuations were initially rife that his arrest was an aftermath of the alleged role he played in the controversial N10billion loan saga, none of the 16-count charge preferred against him, yesterday, related to either the loan scam or the previous N2.3 billion car scandal that trailed his administration.
Meanwhile, sources at the commission told Vanguard that other influential persons in the country that allegedly took part in the illicit contract transactions, who the EFCC insisted were presently at large, would be arrested and subsequently prosecuted alongside Bankole.
In the case entered against Bankole, yesterday, EFCC maintained that the former Speaker connived with other persons at large, to inflate the costs of several contracts that were awarded by the House, to the tune of about N894 million, contrary to section 58(4) (a) of the Public Procurement Act No. 14 of 2007 and punishable under section 58(5) of the same Act.
Some of the alleged illicit deals that formed the conduit pipes through which the said monies were pilfered by the accused person, include the purchase of 400 units of 40_inch Samsung (LNS. 341) television sets, 800 units of Desktop Computers (HP Compaq DC 5700), 100 units of Sharp Digital Copier 5316, 400 units of HP LaserJet 2600N, among others.
The EFCC further alleged that Bankole rigged the bid for the purchase of three units of Mercedes Benz S600 cars, two units of Range Rover vehicles (without bullet proofs) and 400 units of DSTV systems, by refusing to follow all the procedures prescribed for public procurements in Sections 17 to 56 of the Public Procurement Act No.14 of 2007, leading to a loss of value to the national treasury and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58(4)(e) of the Public Procurement Act, No.14 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act.
Meantime, the former Speaker has raised an alarm over the current ordeal he is passing through, saying he has been subjected to psychological torture.
Bankole who issued a statement through his media aide, Mr. Idowu Bakare, yesterday, lamented that the EFCC has refused him access to his team of lawyers, contending that it amounted to an abuse of his fundamental and constitutional rights.
Idowu’s statement said: “The EFCC is presently subjecting Dimeji Bankole, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, to psychological torture as it has refused access to him by his team of lawyers and family members since he was abducted on Sunday night at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja.
“This is against his fundamental and constitutional rights to have access to his lawyers and close family members while in custody of the anti_ graft agency. Information at our disposal indicates that pressure was mounted on him throughout Sunday night to get him to write a statement implicating some members of the House of Representatives.
“As we earlier alerted, the manner EFCC has gone about the invitation of the former Speaker and the subsequent media trial and prosecution with EFCC feeding unsuspecting public with such fiction of the former Speaker resisting arrest, under house arrest and attempting to flee the country even as number four citizen of Nigeria shows that the agency is engaged in political witch hunting and vendetta against the former Speaker.
“So far the anti-graft agency, even without concluding investigation, has portrayed Bankole as guilty from its utterances and selective persecution and is refusing to charge him to court to decide on the case as stipulated by the law within a time limit.
“We understand that not making headway with Bankole, the EFCC has perfected plans to start harassing members of his family, starting with his immediate family. As reported in the media, yesterday, EFCC went to search his house where his wife and two children were domiciled and harassed the wife, a trend that is now common with EFCC. We believe that the agency should have isolated the wife from such treatment of a man who is still presumed innocent
‘We gathered that EFCC has not forgiven comments credited to Bankole by Wikkileaks to the effect that EFCC is not “worth a penny” even after Bankole has publicly denied making such a statement about the organisation months ago.”
Bankole had ceased to be Speaker before arrest
Meanwhile the argument as to whether Bankole had ceased to be the nation’s Speaker before his arrest was countered by several lawyers yesterday.
Prof Itse Sagay, SAN, said: “I don’t agree with the position that he was still the Speaker at the time of his arrest on Sunday. The life of the House is automatic.
Since they were inaugurated on June 4, 2007, the life of the House came to an end on June 3, 2011 having run its full course of four years. When he adjourned the House last Thursday that was the end of the life of the House. So, he had ceased to be Speaker at the time of his arrest. In any case, he has no immunity from arrest. Even the new Speaker who has also been linked with the N10billion is susceptible to being picked up.”
Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN: “He was sworn in on June 4, 2007, by virtue of Statutory Interpretation Act, LFN. His tenure expired on June 5, 2011. So, his being picked up at about past 8.00pm, Friday, is quite legal, constitutional and legitimate because at that time he had ceased to be Speaker of the 6th National Assembly.
His intention to hand over on Monday was a mere ceremonial test which is neither grounded in law nor in the constitution. That was why the swearing in of the new Speaker and his deputy went on without him. “www.mannamart.com
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