House of Reps needs to be Sanitised- EFCC boss

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC], Mrs. Farida Waziri says there is the need for the House of Representatives to be sanitised.

Speaking while receiving members of the progressive group of the House of Representatives, the chairman said Nigerians are worried about the number of scandals coming from the lower legislature.

Mrs. Farida Waziri said the agency will shortly raise a panel to investigate alleged mismanagement of N9billion by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole and nine other principal officers.

She said no suspect would be spared as the law is not a respecter of any person.

"For the National Assembly, the House of Representatives in particular, I have been worried, I think most Nigerians have been very concerned, because there have been scandals upon scandals in that House.

"I read in the papers just like any other Nigerian that a petition was coming and to be presented personally by Honourable members.

"And this morning, I saw an advert in ThisDay newspaper and with the EFCC Secretary we were going through and we discussed it. I was just sending for the Director of Operations that we dont even have to wait for you to bring in a petition before we look into it. We will look into this.

"And I was talking of setting up a committee of diligent and loyal and hardworking officer to look at this, I was told that you were around". She said.

The reps visited the EFCC boss to present a petition to the commission over allegations of abuse of public funds brought against the speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, led by Mr. Dino Melaye.

The lawmakers had last week released a document detailing an alleged inflation of costs of purchased items for lawmakers by the leadership of the lower House.

One of the key members of the Group, Rep. Ehiogie West-Idahosa, in a statement, accused the Speaker of using sectionalism and religion to get back at people demanding that he accounts for his stewardship.

He said, "recent allegations made against the leadership of the House by the Progressives with respect to the misuse of public funds and non-compliance with the Public Procurement Act, the House leadership has commenced the mobilization of members (using religion and region) to suspend members of the Progressives for exercising their fundamental human rights under the constitution to expose corruption and waste."

He said all lawmakers in the chamber must enjoy their rights under relevant statutes to demand better leadership, adding that the Progressives would resist any attempt to stop them.

"All members have their privileges to demand accountability and to question improper act of leadership protected by the legislative (Houses) and privileges act and legislative customs worldwide.

"The allegations of corruption have nothing to do with any religion or region. They stand on their own and should be answered independently. We urge our colleagues to shun this campaign.

"We wish to inform the public that the Progressive would legally resist any attempt to intimidate them by threat of suspension and suppress the truth. We call on all Nigerians to protect our democracy and guarantee the right to freedom of expression and thought, which comes with all democratic regimes."...accuse Speaker of using religion to evade probe

The group has vowed to resist any plot to suspend them for demanding 'accountability' from their principal.

The Lawmakers are billed to meet for the first time after the threat to Honourable Dimeji Bankole Tomorrow June 22, 2010.

The Progressives believe it has enormous following in the chamber, and has vowed the House will be made ungovernable until Mr Bankole, whom he blames for the crime, resigns.

"If Chief (Vincent) Ogbulafor (the PDP chairman) could resign in the interest of the nation," the group said last week, "then the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, should tow the path of honour by resigning now." Dino Malaye said.

The house media committee chairman, Eseme Eyibo called the documents "fake" and said they are mere "scripts and tissues" put together by "legislative delinquents who have no responsibility".

Tuesday�s sitting will test the triumph, or failure, of the aggrieved lawmakers� two-week agitation.

President Goodluck Jonathan is reportedly under pressure to withdraw his perceived support for the embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his deputy, Bayero Nafada, by allowing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute them over their reported indictment in the alleged N2.3 billion car scam rocking the lower chamber for almost one and a half years.

Chairman of the anti-corruption commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, had disclosed that the final investigative report on the alleged scam had been sent to the presidency when late President Umaru Yar’Adua was still in the saddle for further directive, since the order to investigate the alleged scam came from the presidency through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

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