No hiding place for Bankole, says EFCC
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- Category: Law, Crime & Judiciary
- Published on Thursday, 02 June 2011 09:09
- Written by Admin
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Twice, the Speaker was summoned by the commission to appear before a five-man panel and he failed to appear. The commission said that it would not reveal its next line of action against the Speaker. Spokesman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, also said that the commission was after some former governors.
He said very soon, the commission would come out with the names of the former governors being investigated. ‘’We have not dropped the probe of the Speaker. We are not going to open up on the next line of action we will adopt. He is still very much under investigation.
‘’The commission is working on those who have cases against us. In the next few weeks, you will get to know. By the time we invite the former governors, you will know.’
‘The commission also accused the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) of working to destabilise the commission. Babafemi said: ‘’Many of the groups and persons that have been invited to the forum certainly do not know the motivating force propelling the brain behind the forum.
‘’Since deceit has been employed by the organisers of the forum to lure other good intentioned groups and individuals to rubber stamp their pre-determined agenda, we believe we have a responsibility to further inform the
public, especially sincere members of the civil society community that the elements behind the forum are nothing but hired hands who are taking advantage of the good reputation built over the years for CDHR by the likes of Beko Ransome Kuti, Mrs. Ayo Obe and others to line their own pockets.
‘’We wish to seize this opportunity to challenge credible members of the CDHR to ask questions from the present leaders of the organisation on the motive and source of fund for their sudden activities and they will discover that they have been deceived by a bunch of self-serving individuals.
But, Bankole dared the anti-graft agency, insisting that he had nothing to be afraid of. He also said the invitation extended to him “is politically motivated”.
A letter dated May 31 from his office, entitled: Re: Investigation activities invitation letter: Re Rt Hon Speaker Oladimeji Bankole and addressed to the Chairman of EFCC, Mrs Farida Waziri, stated: “Prior to your letter under reference, no letter has ever been addressed to or received by the Speaker from your office even though a lot has been written concerning him on the pages of newspapers in connection with your office on the subject matter in recent times.
“That the Speaker has never written any letter to your office hence your reference to your undated letter in connection with the above subject matter is very strange and has no basis.
“At no time did the Speaker receive any request for an interview from your office nor did he request any rescheduling of interview to the 31st of May.
“That the Speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria finds it very curious and unethical that your office preferred to engage in sensational prosecution and conviction on the pages of newspaper on an issue as grave as corruption without ever communicating to him.
“That if your office is desirous of having an interview with the Speaker, you should kindly request for such, formally and provide information about any specific issues you are investigating to enable him prepare his response accordingly.
“This it is very necessary in view of the fact that the subject matter of your letter does not disclose anything other than “investigation activities” which you would agree is not only vague but nebulous and you would no doubt appreciate the fundamental right of every citizen of Nigeria is guaranteed by the constitution, which you as the chairman of the EFCC must uphold.
“In that regard, all cards must be placed on the table to enable the Speaker respond to any relevant issue which you might want to raise”. (Compass News)
