Femi Falana
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A Federal High Court, Lagos has granted leave to a group, Heda Resource Centre, to commence a suit seeking the prosecution of the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson, and 18 of his colleagues for a N78m fraud.
The fraud, as alleged by the group, involved the money which they refused to return to the state coffer, having failed to attend an international conference, being the purpose for which they received the money.
Justice Benedict Molokwu granted the permission on Wednesday, in a short ruling on an ex parte application filed by the group.
Heda Resource Centre, represented by human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), had sought to institute a suit to compel the Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Lagos to prosecute the legislators for a fraud amounting to N78m.
Molokwu held in her ruling that Heda Resource Centre had provided sufficient materials to deserve being allowed to commence move to compel the police to prosecute them.
The group stated in its affidavit supporting the suit that its application was informed by the alleged refusal of the CP, SFU to proceed with the prosecution of the legislators after investigating the alleged fraud and made public a report indicting the legislators.
Another group, Transparency and Good Governance Coalition, whose petition informed the police investigation, had alleged that the legislators received about N78m from the governor of the state for an international conference which they allegedly failed to attend and also refused to return their shares of the money to the state.
They were said to have received the money for the 43rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Africa Regional Conference in South Africa, scheduled to hold from June 29 to July 8, 2012.
Other legislators allegedly involved in the fraud are Peter Akpe, Obedient Emoto, Tonye Isenah, Nestor K. Benabo, Walaman Sam Igrubia, Gentle Emelah, Victor Prezi, Agatha Goma, Abraham Ingobele and Amalayo Yousuo.
Others are, Daniel Igali, Ebamua Empere, Janathan Obubite, Alfred Egba, Obolo Monday, Iniyobnio Obiene, Dorgu Kuroakegha, Ebi Fekoweimo and James Ayobegha.
The police investigative report, contained in a document titled, ‘Press bulletin’, dated October 4, 2012 and signed for the CP, SFU by Ngozi Isintume (W/ASP), stated, “The Speaker, leading 18 members including his Deputy, Victor Sam Atoki, with the exception of Kemelayefa Omonibeke and three others departed Nigeria for South Africa, allegedly for the conference, on July 6 and arrived Johannesburg on July 7, 2012 the day the conference ended.”
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Konbowei Benson, on Wednesday raised the alarm over a plot by some aggrieved politicians and lawmakers to remove him from office.
Benson, who spoke to journalist at the Assembly complex, Yenagoa, insisted that some unnamed politicians were inciting some of the lawmakers to impeach him.