More woes for Bankole as he is re-arrested on fresh charges

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday released former House Speaker Dimeji Bankole on bail. He is facing a 16-count charge of contract inflation and awards without due process slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).







But his freedom was short-lived. He was rearrested and whisked off to an Abuja High Court for fresh charges.
At the Court yesterday were former and present House of Representatives members, senators and students of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Some youths carrying placards with various inscriptions were at the court premises. They came to support Bankole.

Bankole and his former deputy Usman Nafada were arraigned on a 17-count charge of criminal breach of trust, dishonest use of House of Representatives bank account to obtain loan and sharing same to members without the consent and approval of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the extant Revised Financial Regulations of the Federal Government of Nigeria, 2009.

The alleged offences are contrary to Sections 97(1), 286 and 311 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990, and punishable under Sections 287 and 315 of the same Penal Code Act.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Bankole and Nafada allegedly obtained over N37.91billion loans to pay jumbo allowances to members of the 6th House of Representatives.
One of the loans was a N12billion facility obtained by the House leadership three days to the end of its tenure last month.

The allowances were allegedly paid outside the approved Remuneration Package for Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the extant Revised Financial Regulations of the Federal Government of Nigeria, 2009.

The accused persons were brought to court around 2:37 p.m. in a Coaster bus marked BR739BWR. Bankole was clad in his trademark all-white dress with a white cap to match. Nafada wore a blue Kaftan and a red cap.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecution counsel Festus Keyamo urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody.

The defence counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), who led Mr. Afolabi Fashanu (SAN) and others tried to move an oral bail application.
But Justice Suleiman Belgore declined the move. He ordered the defence to file a formal bail application as sufficient materials must be placed before the court to show why bail should be granted.

But, Keyamo told the court of the EFCC’s predicament in keeping the accused persons in its custody.
Keyamo said the anti-graft agency does not have enough medical facilities to accommodate them. Besides, he said, the facility is over-stretched.

"My lord, the prison has enough medical attention. We don’t have facilities to accommodate them. Since we have charged them to court; that is the prerogative of my client," he said.
Awomolo disagreed. He insisted that the commission could still accommodate them.

Then, the Judge asked: "How could you know they have facilities; this is a question of fact, you know it".
On a second thought, Justice Belgore, said: "It is a presumption that the prison has facilities to accommodate them".

Justifying his position, Keyamo said: "I say this with every sense of responsibility, there are lots of them. There are so many of them that will be brought in and there is no space for them again."
Keyamo also opposed a short adjournment saying the week was busy.

But Awomolo pleaded with the court to grant a short adjournment as the liberty of the accused was at stake.
Ruling, Justice Belgore said the adjournment was important at this stage.

Consequently, he adjourned till Thursday for bail application. Overruling the request of the EFCC, the Judge ordered that the accused persons be remanded in the custody of the commission.

Keyamo told reporters after the court session that more charges will be filed as investigation progresses.
Admitting Bankole to bail at the Federal High Court, Justice Donatus Okorowo described EFCC’s claim that it was informed that Bankole planned to run abroad as hearsay and speculative.

Besides, he faulted the commission’s argument that it was not under obligation to disclose the identity of the riot policeman attached to Bankole who exposed his plot to escape abroad.

The Judge said no one is allowed to hide from the court any information that could assist in arriving at a considered decision.

The Court admitted Bankole to N5 million bail with one surety in like sum. He was also ordered to deposit his travelling documents with the court.


The matter was adjourned till July 26 and 27 for trial.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Linkedin
• Pinterest

Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday


Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users

You Might Also Like

« PREV

NEXT »