EFCC storms Bankole’s residence!

Former speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, may have unwittingly placed himself under house arrest by his refusal to yield to operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who stormed his residence at Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja, yesterday morning.

Operatives of the anti-corruption agency reportedly stormed the residence of the former speaker yesterday after they got wind that he planned to flee the country to London, at the wee hours of today, following the end of the legislative session the previous day.

It was learnt that fierce looking policemen and other security operatives attached to Mr. Bankole blocked his arrest and almost engaged the EFCC operatives in what was described as"bloody confrontation" but for the intervention of some superior officers.

It was learnt that senior officers who sensed trouble among the security operatives and the police alerted, the EFCC boss, Mrs. Farida Waziri and  the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Alh. Hafiz Ringim, who raced to the former Speaker's House to save the situation.

The IG, it was gathered, had a short discussion with Mr. Bankole on the need to hand himself over to the EFCC and save himself further embarrassment.  This Bankole accepted before the IG left his house in the afternoon.

According to a statement signed by the former speaker's Media Assistant on Communications, Mr. Kayode Odunaro, said Bankole would make himself available to the EFCC to answer question regarding allegations of financial misappropriation during his tenure in the House.

It stated that Bankole was ready to submit himself for interrogation and would report to the EFCC offices in Abuja by 2 pm on Monday.

The statement reads in part "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 official of EFCC of his intention to honour their invitation on Monday June, 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 statement insisted that Mr. Bankole was not running away from the EFCC, adding that any speculation that the former speaker had wanted to leave the county was false.

Source:
Vanguard