Nigerian Judge Dismisses N40 billion Fraud Case Against Former Speaker Bankole And Deputy, Nafada

Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Abuja High Court today dismissed the corruption charges brought against former speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy.   The judge ruled that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had not brought a solid case against the duo and ruled that they have no case to answer.
The controversial ruling has set free the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his deputy, Usman Bayero Nafada of complicity in the N40 billion loan scam.


Justice Belgore told a bewildered courtroom today that the actions of the former speaker of the house who used the account of house to obtain personal bank loans were morally wrong but not criminal. He further stated that the offences of misappriation of public funds should be heaped on the clerk and not the former speaker of the house and his deputy.

EFCC sources told Saharareporters that they had expected today's ruling because throughout his arrest and incarceration, the former speaker refused to be interrogated and persistently boasted that he would be acquitted eventually.

Bankole looted the accounts of the House of Representatives as speaker using the public account to borrow money from the banks, which were eventually laundered to buy choice properties at giveaway prices. Through such acts of money laundering his family is the proud owner of the NITEL building in Lagos as well as his former residence which was sold to him for meager N40 million.