The Nation June 14 2011

Page 1

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

News Panel: Oni paid contractors billions for jobs not done Sport Enyeama will perform in France, Utaka predicts Business Goldman Sachs forecasts 3% in Nigeria’s GDP

P5 P24 P15

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VOL. 6, NO. 1790 TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

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Bankole, Nafada charged with alleged N38b fraud EFCC rearrests ex-Speaker Dad says he’s worried over his safety

ICPC grills eight Oyo officials over N8.5b scam From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

T

resentatives. One of the loans was a N12billion facility obtained by the House leadership three days to the end of its tenure last month.

HE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday grilled eight top officials of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s administration over their alleged complicity in the N8.5 billion contract scam. The officials are in the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as Commerce. They were invited to the Abuja headquarters of the commission where they tendered files and other documents on the alleged contract scam. It was learnt that the commission’s officials requested the files and documents to enable them probe the alleged contract scam, particularly to determine the role played by commissioners. They were still at the commission, as at press time yesterday. It was learnt that the documents they supplied were being scrutinised by

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FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday released former House Speaker Dimeji Bankole on bail. He is facing a 16-count charge of contract inflation and awards without due process slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). But his freedom was short-lived. He was rearrested and whisked off to an Abuja High Court for fresh charges. At the Court yesterday were former and present House of Representatives members, senators and students of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Some youths carrying placards with various inscriptions were at the court premises. They came to support Bankole. Bankole and his former deputy Usman Nafada were arraigned on a 17count charge of criminal breach of trust, dishonest use of House of Representatives bank account to obtain loan and sharing same to members without the

•Bankole (left) and Nafada in court ... yesterday

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE FRESH CHARGES •Criminal breach of trust by agreeing to approve allowances and/or “running costs” of Reps in violation of the approved Remuneration Package •Dishonest use of House of Reps account to obtain about N38billion loan to augment allowances and “running costs” of members in violation of the extant rules •Dishonest misappropriation and disbursement of the loans •Felony to wit: theft From Yusuf Alli and Kamorudeen Ogundele, Abuja

consent and approval of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the extant Revised Financial Regulations of the Federal Govern-

ment of Nigeria, 2009. The alleged offences are contrary to Sections 97(1), 286 and 311 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990, and punishable under Sections 287 and 315 of the

same Penal Code Act. They pleaded not guilty to the charge. Bankole and Nafada allegedly obtained over N37.91billion loans to pay jumbo allowances to members of the 6th House of Rep-

Cabinet: President drops five controversial nominees

P •Dr Jonathan

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has dropped five controversial would-be ministers. The Senate is expected to get the list tomorrow. The President’s decision was based on security reports on the nominees. They include two candidates linked to the ongoing N9billion scam in the House of Representatives for which ex-Speaker Dimeji Bankole is being tried.

•Lagos PDP members adamant on Aganga From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

Three others were implicated in the defiance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House members on zoning, which led to the election of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. The party preferred Mrs Mulikat Akande-Adeola. The three candidates were alleged

to have been part of the revolt in the House against the party. The five nominees, whose names were kept under wraps yesterday, are being replaced. A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President has said that no nominee will be allowed to go through or be presented to the Senate, if he is being investigated for anything.

“Five of such nominees have already been dropped. Two are linked to the allegations against ex-Speaker Dimeji Bankole; three worked against the party to ensure the emergence of Tambuwal.” It was gathered last night that members of the Lagos State chapter of the PDP and Lagos indigenes were adamant in their opposition to the return of the immediate past Minister of FiContinued on page 2

•POLITICS P12 •SPORTS P23 •PROPERTY P25 •ENERGY P37 •AVIATION P49


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