Dimeji Bankole discharged and Acquitted from 16-count charge!

Dimeji Bankole - Freed

Mr. Dimeji Bankole, who had been facing trial for contract inflation and embezzlement to the tune of N874 million has been freed by a High Court sitting in Abuja. Bankole, who was the Speaker for the House of Rep., was accused of stealing public fund and inflating the cost of Federal Government contracts by the EFCC who brought 16-count charge against him just after his tenure. He was nicknamed, "Bank-Ole" (Bank Thief) by mischievous media people and some Nigerians. But now he has been discharged and acquitted. Justice Evoh Chukwu said the EFCC lawyers, led by Festus Keyamo, failed "woefully" Festus Keyamo, “failed woefully” to establish a prima facie case against the ex-Speaker. The offences were contrary to section 58 (4) (a), (b) and (e) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) and attract a minimum of five years and maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

Ladoja on the other hand will be facing the court, which has ordered the trial of the former Governor of Oyo State who had gone to the Appeal Court begging it to quash the N4.7 billion money laundering charge brought against him by the EFCC. The Appellate Court ordered the former governor to go the lower court to face trial, holding that "the EFCC has the power to prosecute Ladoja under the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004"

~Written by Emdee David