Bankole, EFCC, Eight Others Sued Over N2.3b Car Scam

Bankole, EFCC, Eight Others Sued Over N2.3b Car Scam

By Obiora Ifoh, Rotimi Akinwumi and Sola Shittu, Abuja

 

 

A lawyer and human rights activist, Nkereuwem Akpan, has sued House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and eight others to the Abuja Federal High Court over the N2.3 billion car scam rocking the House.

He is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the EFCC to prosecute Bankole and Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) over their alleged involvement in the scandal that has refused to go away since the three years it broke.

Akpan asked, among others, that money allegedly stolen from the car purchase be returned to the treasury.

The defendants listed also include Deputy Speaker Usman Nafada, PAN, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Inspector General of Police, federal Attorney General, the EFCC, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

It was learnt that the litigation is part of the scheme by some of Bankole's colleagues to get rid of him.

Their ultimatum for his resignation expired on Tuesday.

Akpan urged the court to make a declaration that the purchase of the cars from PAN was riddled with corruption, done without lawful authority, and therefore illegal, void, and fraudulent.

He insisted that the EFCC should have made public its report on the alleged scam, and not have sent it to Aso Rock, since "Mr. President is not EFCC Legal Adviser."

However, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Alkali Rufai' warned against the  plot by the 'Progressives' to remove Bankole from office, describing it as a threat to democracy. 

He condemned the gambit, and urged the lawmakers not to create instability in the legislature.

"What the people expect from the National Assembly (NASS) are not drumbeats of war but a speedy conclusion of issues involving Constitution amendment, electoral reform, and purposeful legislations for the good governance of the country," Rufai said in a statement.

Acting PDP National Chairman, Bello Mohammed, also cautioned its members in the House of Representative to refrain from throwing  democracy into disrepute

He implored them to sheath their swords and follow procedure in resolving all issues, and to refrain from making inflammatory statements against one another that will heat up the polity and create instability.