Speaker Dimeji Bankole, His Father, and Two Brothers Involved in Electrification Scandal?

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Category: POLITICS

Published on Saturday, 23 May 2009 00:25

Written by Omoba

The office of the Speaker of the Nigeria House of Representatives has reacted angrily to Press reports that the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, His Father, and Two Brothers are involved in the REA Electrification Scandal. Saharareporters had reported about the "extensive involvement of Speaker Dimeji Bankole of the House of Representatives in the rural electrification scam that has embroiled members of

the National Assembly as well as senior officials of the Rural Electrification Agency".

In a Press Statement, the Speaker insisted that "while the family members of Rt. Hon. Bankole have every right within the law to own companies and carry out contracts in Nigeria. But in this instance, none of the companies they own has solicited, applied or have been linked to contracts under investigation by EFCC".

Below are the Press Statement and The story carried by Saharareporters.

see also House of Representatives jittery over Elumelu Scandal

Olusegun Obasanjo versus Ndudi Elumelu

PRESS STATEMENT

BANKOLES NOT INVOLVED IN POWER CONTRACT

The attention of the office of the Speaker, House of Representatives have been drawn to an Internet sponsored publication alleging that members of Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole family benefitted in the N5.2 billion contract scam at the Rural Electrification Agency, REA.

While the issue is now before a court of competent jurisdiction and it would be subjudice to comment on the litigation, it is necessary to alert the public and media organizations that this is yet another blackmail to tarnish the reputation of the Speaker in a typical “Pull Him Down syndrome”.

The wicked publication not  only failed to establish any linkage between members of the family of Rt. Hon. Bankole and all the companies published and charged to be involved in the rural electrification contracts. Indeed the publication specifically stated that it cannot identify which of the companies is linked to the family of Bankole, which in itself negates the fundamental journalism rule that “when in doubt, leave out”.

For the avoidance of doubt, family members of Rt. Hon. Bankole have every right within the law to own companies and carry out contracts in Nigeria. But in this instance, none of the companies they own has solicited, applied or have been linked to contracts under investigation by EFCC.

In Nigeria, it is a simple thing to search for the identity of owners of various companies through the Corporate Affairs Commission, C.A.C, but the blackmailers after Rt. Hon. Bankole would rather rush to questionable foreign media outlets as a prelude to moving to local media scene.

We recalled that EFCC said its investigation into the case was spurred by movement of cash into companies’ accounts and we challenge anyone to identify any companies own by the Bankoles where REA made payment for contracts.

We view this as yet another attempt aimed at discrediting the Speaker with intent which could at best be political. The pull him down agenda, it would be recalled, started barely two days after the Speaker was elected when some disgruntled elements came down hard on his person, alleging that he did not serve the nation under the mandatory NYSC scheme. When this was conclusive shown to be a lie, these elements followed  with an attack on the integrity of the Bankole led House through the malicious allegation of fraud using forged documents on the purchase of Peugeot 407 cars for the House’s Committee. Again, when the orchestration failed, these enemies have now shifted their attack on the family of Bankole.

Despite these wicked machinations, the Speaker would not be distracted from pursuing an activist legislative agenda that had led to unprecedented achievements for good governance in the country. As it is, family members of Bankole reserve the right to seek legal redress against any person or organization defaming their character or the reputation of their companies through malicious publication.

Idowu Bakare

Chief Press Secretary to Speaker,

Nigeria House Of Representatives

Speaker Dimeji Bankole, His Father, and Two Brothers Involved in Electrification Scandal

Speaker Dimeji Bankole

Investigations by Saharareporters have uncovered details about the extensive involvement of Speaker Dimeji Bankole of the House of Representatives in the rural electrification scam that has embroiled members of the National Assembly as well as senior officials of the Rural Electrification Agency.

The House Committee Chairman on Power, Godwin Ndudi Elumelu, his deputy, Jibo Mohammed, Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane, and seven senior management officials of the Rural Electrification Agency are presently facing trial before Justice Abimbola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has slammed the suspects with a 156-count charge.

Also, four other members of the House of Representatives are being sought for questioning and possible arraignment, but our source would not name them.

Our latest revelation, based on information from a variety of reliable sources, is that the Yar'adua regime and United Bank for Africa (UBA) are working in tandem in a major effort to cover up the involvement of Speaker Bankole, his father and two siblings.

A source who is part of the investigation told our correspondent that UBA had refused to release further account information to the EFCC that could implicate Mr. Dimeji Bankole. The investigator disclosed that the speaker's companies, with his father and two brothers serving as proxies, made close to N900 million from the corruption scandal.

Another source told us that Elumelu was also refusing to speak about Bankole's involvement having been promised soft landing by the speaker, who is very close to Yar'adua.

In the past, Saharareporters had reported on how Speaker Bankole receives kickbacks from oil lifting contracts approved by Yar'adua.

Three of our sources described Elumelu as the arrowhead of the contract bonanza. EFCC sources told Saharareporters that Elumelu alone could have stolen up to N3 billion from the rural electrification scam. The monies were reportedly routed through various dubious accounts at the United Bank of Africa (UBA) owned by Tony Elumelu, the legislator's brother.

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