Bankole fails to report to EFCC again, launches campaign of calumny

Details: Category: Politics; Published on Wednesday, 01 June 2011 08:47; Written by Admin; Hits: 794

A cold war erupted yesterday between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the House of Representatives over Speaker Dimeji Bankole’s invitation. He is expected to be quizzed over some allegations against his leadership.

The EFCC in a statement yesterday raised the alarm over alleged plot to launch campaigns of calumny against it. The EFCC had expected Bankole to turn up for interrogation yesterday. He did not.

He had asked to be allowed to report at the EFCC’s Abuja office yesterday, after he failed to meet an earlier appointment. As at last night, no official reason was given for the non-appearance of the Speaker.

It was however learnt that the House leadership had informally reported to President Goodluck Jonathan that the EFCC was trying to disrupt the inauguration of the 7th House of Representatives on June 6 by inviting Bankole for interrogation. The House was said to have described the invitation as "ill-timed and a dangerous precedent".

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: "We are aware that the House considers the invitation of Bankole as an act of sabotage and a threat to the inauguration of the new House of Representatives on June 6.

"There is no way the EFCC will go out of its way to disrupt the inauguration of the House of Representatives. "There are fears that the Speaker may be detained by the EFCC. It is unthinkable that some leaders of the House are acting on suspicion.

"Nobody is saying that Bankole or any leader of the House is guilty of the allegations levelled against the House leadership. "It is a standard practice all over the world to invite anyone who has a petition against him for interaction. It is not a big deal."

It was gathered that there is pressure on the EFCC to "wait till after the inauguration of the 7th House of Representatives before interacting with Bankole". It could not be immediately ascertained if the EFCC will succumb to the pressure.

But the EFCC Bankole saga took a new twist following an alarm raised by the anti-graft agency that a high-profile suspect and a few other suspects are out to discredit the commission.

The EFCC raised the alarm in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi. The statement said: "The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by a high-profile suspect to launch campaigns of calumny against the agency and some of its officials." (The Nation)