Official:EFCC Arrests ex-Nigerian speaker, Bankole

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Sunday finally arrested Dimeji Bankole, outgoing speaker of the House of Representatives.

Bankole had indicated his readiness to appear before investigating officers of the anti graft agency on Monday, 6 June, following the failed bid of EFCC to arrest him last Friday.

But a source in the anti graft agency said the Speaker was arrested on Sunday following information about his plans to flee the country.

It was gathered that EFCC had deployed its men to the Asokoro residence of the Speaker this afternoon to carry out the arrest.

PM NEWS however gathered that just like it happened last Friday, the Speaker had tried to stop his arrest by locking himself inside his house and reaching out to some influential Nigerians who could get EFFC off his back on telephone.

But it was gathered that EFCC operatives were eventually able to arrest Bankole  when his security aides were withdrawn.

EFFC is investigating Bankole over a N10 billion taken by the House when he was Speaker and other financial improprieties.

The anti graft agency had twice invited the Speaker for interrogation over the issues, but he spurned the invitations. The EFCC had tried unsuccessfully to arrest the Speaker last Friday.

Meanwhile, the embattled outgoing Speaker through his aide released a statement today in which he explained that the decision to take the N10 billion loan was jointly taken and approved by the Budget Committee of the House led by Aminu Tambuwal.According to the aide, loan was used to cater for the increase of the running cost of members from N27m to N42m.

By Oluokun Ayorinde/Abuja