The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday expanded its investigation of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, by quizzing some erstwhile principal officers of the House.
Their interrogation coincided with the refusal of a Federal High Court in Abuja to grant bail to the embattled former speaker.
Bankole was arraigned before the court on alleged N894m contracts fraud in the House. He pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge read before him.
One of our correspondents learnt that the former principal officers — Usman Nafada, Baba Shehu-Agaie,Tunde Akogun, Suleiman Kawu, Mohammed Bello and Ali Ndume — were quizzed on the N10bn loan scandal that rocked the House in the twilight of its tenure.
The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said they (former principal officers) were invited to explain what they knew about the loan.
It was learnt that the passports of the former House leaders were seized by the anti-graft agency before they were allowed to go.
The N10bn loan is one of the three cases that the Ogun State-born ex-speaker is being investigated by the anti-graft agency.
Bankole had made startling revelations that the former principal officers were the major beneficiaries of the loan.
Source: The Punch