Bankole faces 16-count charge, may spend 5 years in prison - EFCC

[emezico]

Three days after his arrest and interrogation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday filed a 16-count charge of contract inflation amounting to N894m against the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja by its counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, the commission said Bankole and other principal officers of the House 'now at large' hiked the cost of vehicles, television sets and office equipment purchased by the House in 2008.

It said the items comprised three Mercedes Benz S-600, two Range Rover SUVs, 400 television sets, 100 units of photocopying machines, computer units, scanners and other accessories.

The commission, in the charge sheet with reference No.FHC/ABJ/CR/47/11, said the action contravened some sections of the Public Procurement Act No. 14 of 2007.

If found guilty, Bankole, who, will be arraigned before Justice Donatus Okorowu on Wednesday, will spend five years in prison.

The EFCC's Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, who confirmed that the former Speaker would be arraigned today, said the commission was questioning Bankole on three separate 'deals.'

He said the commission decided to file the 16-count charge against him because it had concluded investigations on one of them — the N894m scam.