Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) yesterday stormed the residence of outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole in connection with the controversial N10billion loan, which he took for the House and sundry other allegations.
Saturday Sun checks revealed that following Bankole’s failure, on two occasions, to honour an invitation extended to him by authorities of the anti-graft agency, which requested his appearance to clarify the issues raised in a petition against him, a team of EFCC operatives stormed his official residence in the early hours of yesterday to pick him up.
Bankole, according to sources, ‘tactfully’ resisted arrest, and in the process, made contacts with highly placed political and public officials, including the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, who reportedly went to the outgoing Speaker’s house to personally intervene.
It was further learnt that the IGP urged the authorities of the anti-graft commission to grant Bankole the last grace of reporting for interrogation after formally handing over on Monday, more so, since he had been pleading to be allowed some time to wind up his official engagements.
A source at the EFCC said: “The IGP pleaded with us to allow him to hand over on Monday. In fact, he told us that we can even pick him up immediately after the handing over formalities. But for now, he pleaded that we should give him a period of grace till Monday. With due respect to the IG, we are only going to allow him till that day. And as things stand, we may have to pick him up from the venue, immediately after the handing over ceremony.”
Meanwhile, the EFCC had placed Bankole on its watch-list since Thursday, and expanded its surveillance activities on him yesterday. Spokesman for the agency, Femi Babafemi, while confirming Bankole’s placement on the watch-list, however, declined further comments.
The outgoing Speaker was billed to appear before a special team of investigators at the EFCC on May 26, but had pleaded for an extension of time to 11am on Tuesday, citing official engagements as reason. He, however, failed to fulfil his promise on Tuesday, a development that may have compelled operatives of the anti-graft agency to storm his home yesterday.
Meanwhile, Bankole’s chief press secretary, Mr. Idowu Bakare, has said that his boss will honour the invitation of EFCC on Monday. He denied speculated arrest of the outgoing speaker, while confirming that EFCC operatives visited his boss’ home yesterday.
In a statement yesterday, Bakare said: “Contrary to widespread speculations that the outgoing Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, has been arrested or resisted EFCC arrest, the speaker has informed officials of EFCC of his intention to honour their invitation on Monday, June 6, 2011 at 2pm.
“Following Bankole’s letters to the EFCC chairman of some procedural defects in his invitation by EFCC over ‘investigation activities,’ the anti-corruption agency has sent its men to Bankole to renew the invitation and Bankole has given a Monday date for his appearance.
“The outgoing Speaker had scheduled series of meetings in Abuja and Lagos for the weekend with various groups, including personal aides, as part of his valedictory activities, contrary to insinuation that he intended to travel out today (yesterday) to the United Kingdom.”
Source; The Sun Newspaper
