10th June, 2011
Embattled former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole has been returned to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following the scheduling of ruling on his bail application to Monday, 13 June by a Federal High Court.
He is standing trial on alleged inflation of the cost of procuring electronic gadgets and vehicles while in office.
Bankole pleaded with the court to grant him bail on self recognition but the anti-graft agency opposed the application on the grounds that the former Speaker spurned several invitations issued to him by the EFCC and plotted to abscond before his attempts to escape justice were thwarted by the agency.
Counsel to the EFCC, Festus Keyamo also rapped the ex Speaker over a correspondence authored by his defence team led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo which portrayed the EFCC as attempting to frustrate the bail terms to be given to the former Speaker when the court is yet to even hear the bail application.
The letter was written yesterday and served on the prosecution and also copied the court’s records.
Keyamo insisted that the letter should be withdrawn as well as the areas in the supporting affidavits where the foundation for the “embarrassing letter” was laid.
He categorically stated that the character of the anti-graft agency had been assaulted as Bankole’s defence letter had accused the agency of plotting to disparage the court.
Justice Donatus Okorowo, the presiding judge, frowned at the correspondence, wondering what informed it even as he observed that resorting to authoring such correspondence is not good at all in the interest of justice.
According to the judge, “no one can claim to know the mind of the court”.
The letter had alleged that the EFCC was planing to re-arrest Bankole when he is granted bail by the court on the pretence that he is wanted for further interrogation in connection with ongoing investigation.
The court wondered how the Bankole’s lawyers were sure that he will be admitted to bail.
The court consequently adjourned till Monday to rule on the bail application and remanded Bankole in EFCC’s custody.
—Nnamdi Felix
