N10bn loan controversy : Reps move against Bankole
• Angry members threaten to break into chamber
From JAMES OJO, Abuja
Thursday, May 12, 2011

Less than seven days to the expiration of his tenure, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the head of Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Angry members yesterday demanded for explanations on allegations that he allegedly borrowed N10billion from a bank without the knowledge of principal officers and the House.
Bankole was not around yesterday, but it took serious lobby and lots of persuasion for a motion calling for his immediate suspension to be stood down for discussion at today’s session unfailingly.

Mr Dino Melaye had invoked Order 5 of the Rules of the House that his privileges had been injured by the refusal of the Speaker to implement the decision of the House that all the 11 recalled members should be paid their entitlements and the order of the Speaker to lock the doors of the chamber against members yesterday.

In an emotion- laden voice, Melaye said that investigations by the recalled members showed that the bank account of the House was in the red as a result of a loan allegedly obtained by the Speaker, but which other principal officers denied knowledge of. He told his colleagues that with the financial position of the House, it was certain that their quarterly and severance allowances were under serious threat of non- payment.

Indications that all was not well with the House surfaced last Wednesday when the House could not sit and an adjournment was pronounced on the corridor of the Lower Chamber against parliamentary traditions.
The crisis reached a crescendo yesterday when the door of the chamber was locked against members also allegedly on the Speaker’s order. It took the arrival of the Deputy Speaker, Bayero Nafada, before the door was opened for members who had been loitering around the lobby to enter.
Reliable sources said that Nafada rushed in to take charge when information reached him that angry members were ready to force open, the doors leading to the chamber and commence procedures to sack the entire leadership.

There was palpable tension when Nafada breezed into the National Assembly at about 2.35pm and straight, he went into his office and called a meeting of the members, who were present.
Chairman of Rules and Business, Ita Enang, who was on ground to placate members, heaved a sigh of relief when the Deputy Speaker appeared and went into a closed-door meeting with him.
They were joined by Halims Agoda, Leo Ogor, Ismaila Kawu, Aminu Tambuwal, Friday Itula, Melaye, West Idahosa, Independence Ogunewe, Anas Adamu, Festus Adegoke and others members who strolled in and were directed to the Deputy Speaker’s office by security agents, who positioned themselves near the entrance of the chamber.

At exactly 2.45pm, the Sergeant-at-Arms, Col Emeka Okere [retd], led security agents to open the chamber door for the staff to take positions. When it was 3.25pm, four men of the Sergeant-at- Arms led the deputy speaker and the mace into the chamber for the plenary to begin, but had to wait for the circulation of the votes and proceedings of the previous legislative day. More staff of the Sergeant- at -Arms were posted inside the chamber to guard the mace from being removed by unauthorised persons.
Moving his motion amidst tension, Melaye asked that the refusal of the House to pay the entitlements of the 11 recalled members, the unlawful adjournment of last week and the closure of the chamber should be investigated as a responsible House.

“It is obvious that there is no money to run this House. There is leadership failure if we can adjourn the House against the rules of the House. “For somebody to order the lock of this chamber without prior notice is against Rule 4 [2], what happened is a breach of rule, there is need to investigate the finance of the House and I, therefore, move a motion that the Speaker, Hon Dimeji Bankole, be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.” The call for Bankole’s suspension was received with mixed reactions, but the Deputy Speaker took advantage of the confusion to tender unreserved apology to members over the issues raised by Melaye.

“I want to apologise for the issues raised by Melaye. I take responsibilities for the abrupt adjournment. I now directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Sani Omolori, who is the accounting officer, to ensure that all outstanding allowances of the recalled members as decided upon by the resolutions of the House be implemented latest by tomorrow.” Nadafa declined calls to let the matter be discussed behind closed doors and promised agitated members that the leadership will pay all their entitlements before the close of the session.

Former House Leader and now Senator-elect, Abdul Ningi, supported the argument put forward by Melaye, describing them as fundamental and weighty. Also Friday Itula added his voice that because of the weight of the allegations leveled against the Speaker, he should be compelled tell members his own side of the story.