EFCC Slams 15 Count Charge on Former Speaker, Bankole
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday slammed a 15-count charge against the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
There were however, indications that more charges were being prepared against the embattled former Speaker.
Meanwhile, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, is perfecting the filing processes at the High Court registry, with a view to getting the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to assign the case-file to any available trial judge.
Surprisingly, none of the 15-count charge preferred against Bankole was related to either the controversial N10 billion loan saga or the previous N2.3 billion car scandal that rocked the 6th House of Representatives.
Count 1 reads: “that you Dimeji Bankole and others now at large on or about 28th of May, 2008, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, being body of principal officers of the House of Representatives, responsible for the approval of contracts in the House of Representatives, with intent to defraud, did conspire amongst yourselves to inflate the cost of 400 units of 40-inch Samsung (LNS.341) television sets by approving the purchase of the said item at the rate of N523,000.0 per unit, instead of the prevailing market price of N295, 000.00 and thereby committed , offence 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”.
If the EFCC succeeds in its bid to get the case promptly assigned, it will afford the commission the opportunity to properly arraign the ex-speaker today.
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