Bankole, Nafada in fresh N40bn scam •To be arraigned today •Nafada in car accident

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a fresh criminal charge against the detained former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his

deputy, Bayero Usman Nafada, over an alleged fresh N40 billion loan scam.

Commission’s spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development, with the duo likely to be arraigned today.

It was, however, gathered that Nafada was involved in an automobile accident in Abuja on Sunday night while coming to honour an invitation of the commission and receiving treatment in a private hospital.

It was gathered that he was to be detained for onward movement to court today, with Babafemi disclosing that the planned arraignment today before another Federal High Court in Abuja would still go on.

He disclosed that commission’s operatives were watching guard over him at the hospital, adding that reports from them showed that the former lawmaker would be fit for today’s arraignment since he only suffered shock in the accident with no bodily injury.

Babafemi assured that the trial of the duo over the alleged scam would still take place as planned.
The duo of Bankole and Nafada are alleged to have illegally procured N40 billion loan and misappropriated same.

Bankole had been docked by the commission on a 16-count charge of misappropriating N9 billion capital project fund through alleged contract inflation.

His bail application would be determined today.

It was gathered that his fresh arraignment alongside his former deputy would take place before another court today.

A Federal High Court presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowa had remanded Bankole who is the lone accused in the N9 billion trial, in the commission’s custody pending the ruling on his bail today.

The commission had on Wednesday quizzed Nafada alongside five other principal officers of Bankole’s era, releasing them on administrative bail.

Others quizzed alongside him were former House Leader, Tunde Akogun; his deputy, Baba Shehu Agaie; former Deputy Minority, Sulaiman Kawu; former Minority Leader and now a senator, Ali Ndume and Bello Mohammed.

The commission had noted while charging Bankole on the alleged N9 billion scam that more charges were coming on other financial issues that rocked the sixth House of Representatives.

Prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, also confirmed the coming of more trials by saying that “the charges were filed today in order not to keep the ex-speaker in detention beyond the time allowed by law. More charges will be filed in the coming days when investigation would have been concluded on other fraud allegations against Mr Bankole.”

In the 16-count charge, Bankole was accused of inflating the cost of some items bought for the members as well as shunning the procedures for public procurement.

The charge claimed that he committed the alleged crime in collaboration with some other members of his executive who are now at large, but the commission was silent on their identities.