15 Count Charges On Dimejo Bankole

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has formally entered a 15-count criminal charge against the embattled former speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Festus Keyamo, is currently perfecting the filing processes at the High Court registry, with a view to getting the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, to promptly assign the case-file to any available trial Judge.

 Surprisingly, none of the 15-count charge preferred against him, related to either the controversial N10 billion loan saga or the previous N2.3 billion car scandal that rocked the 6th session of the House of Representatives.

For instance, 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 succeed in its bid to get the case promptly assigned, it will afford the commission the opportunity to properly arraign the ex-speaker tomorrow.