The speaker evades arrest as his security detail prevents anti-graft officials from taking him
Article | June 3, 2011 - 9:40am | By Gbenga Olorunpomi

Tense scenes unfolded today at the official residence of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja. Agents of Nigeria’s anti-corruption body, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) attempted to arrest Dimeji Bankole, the immediate-past occupier of Nigeria’s number 4 office.

Bankole, who had been expected to leave Nigeria for the United Kingdom on a British Airways flight this morning, is facing allegations of corruption and money-laundering stemming from his tenure as Speaker. It was revealed that in the last few weeks of his tenure, Bankole obtained loans amounting to N10 billion, and is also alleged to have funnelled over $1 billion out of the country.

However, the EFCC agents were prevented from entering the premises by plainclothes and uniformed officers attached to the Speaker’s office. A stand-off then ensued as the EFCC agents refused to leave, and a second detachment of EFCC operatives was despatched to the scene.

Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, soon arrived on the scene to persuade Bankole to surrender to the EFCC agents, but left the premises abruptly, a few minutes after he arrived. Sources then revealed that while Bankole was still in the country, he was not at the Apo residence but was in hiding somewhere in the capital.

Soon after, it was announced that Bankole had come to an agreement with the EFCC to surrender himself to the agency on Monday.

http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/efcc-goes-after-bankole