There's no business like show business.

After all the show, it's all over.  Looks like Bankole has been released to go and enjoy peppersoup.



After  weeklong detention in the custody of Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, former Speaker of Nigeria's  parliament, Dimeji Bankole, has been granted bail.

Justice Donatus Okorowa overuled objections  by the prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, and admitted Bankole to bail on the condition that he provides two sureties who are have N5million naira cash in their bank accounts, and landed properties in Abuja metropolis.

SaharaReporters learnt that counsels and family members of the embattled speaker were still scrambling to meet the bail conditions as at press time.
Bankole was taken back to EFCC custody as the commission began verification of the properties of his sureties.



The former Speaker is facing a 16-count of fraud related offences, including inflation of contracts to the sum of N894 million.

Justice Okorowahas  set July 26 and 27 for commencement of  trial of the substantive case.

Mr. Bankole faces other corruption charges, EFCC investigators told SaharaReporters that the former speaker will soon be docked for other financial crimes relating to theft of state resources and money laundering

Source: http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/former-nigerian-parliament-speaker-granted-bail

EFCC re-arrests Bankole

June 13, 2011 12:24PM
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday granted bail to Dimeji Bankole, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives after eight nights in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

However, some agents of the Commission immediately re-arrested Mr. Bankole and he will be arraigned on fresh charges today with his former deputy, Usman Nafada.

Bankole who is facing prosecution on alleged corruption charges committed while in office, was asked to submit his international passport to the court which granted him bail earlier in the day in the sum of N5 million and a surety in like sum, with a landed property in Abuja.

He was arrested on Sunday June 5, and charged to court for inflating contract awards which includes the cost of 400 units of 40-inch Samsung (LNS.3410 Television sets) purchased at the rate of N525, 000 per unit, instead of the prevailing market price of N295, 000 and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 58 (4) (a) of the Public Procurement Act No. 14 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (5) of the same Act.

The Commission had also in Abuja on Sunday arrested Mr. Nafada over allegations of corruption while in office.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5715443-146/efcc_re-arrests_bankole___.csp