March 10, 2009
• Linked in 20 PAN Peugeot 406 bribe • Distributes cars to siblings • As presidency ponders EFCC report on N2.3bn scam. This is certainly not the best of times for Mr. Dimeji Bankole, Speaker, Federal House of Representatives who National Daily authoritatively gathered is courting another major scandal that is directly linked with the recent N2.3billion Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) automobile scam the House and himself are still enmeshed in.
Details emanating from the House have shown that the assembly of the Honourables may soon be thrown into deeper ruckus. The latest ill-wind has come in the guise of 20 Peugeot 406, 3.0 Engine automobiles gift meant for the aides of the Speaker, and other Principal Officers of the House.
Sources close to the lower chamber of the National Assembly further disclosed that information of the transaction between PAN and the leadership of the House would have remained a top secret but for what insiders have described as Bankole's greed as he assigned five of the cars to his siblings who are neither official aides nor staff of the House. According to our sources, only about five aides of the principal officers got the cars while the rest of the cars were distributed to siblings of the Speaker as well as that of the principal officers.
It was the silent murmurings from the aides that resulted in a petition that exposed the secret deal between PAN and the leadership of the House, National Daily learnt
The 20 cars were presented to the principal officials of the lower House through the office of the Speaker, according to PAN, as a marketing strategy. But watchers believe it was a calculated attempt to assuage the leadership of the House who were also alarmed by the difference in the specification between what was agreed upon and what was eventually supplied in the N2.3 billion auto purchase scam. "The contrary, however, is the case as the vehicles are bribes to dissuade eyebrows being raised over the initial 350 lower specifications initially supplied," an insider who did not want his name mentioned said.
What may now trigger fresh trouble is that Bankole never knew that information about the gifts would leak to the aides of the affected Principal Officers who had started to make arrangements in preparation for the arrival of their cars. They are said not to be pleased with the Speaker for what they have described as his covetousness. These aides, according to sources, are threatening fire and brimstone; which may dampen the Presidency's attempt to salvage the embattled Speaker from the initial N2.3billion scandal.
National Daily had earlier reported that the report has been submitted to the Presidency by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that the report favours the shielding of Bankole from bearing directly the brunt of the PAN misdemeanor. Names prominent in the report are those of the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Nefada and the management of PAN.
The EFCC is also in a bit of a dilemma as what to do with the fresh scam considering the perceived stance of the presidency on matters that affect Bankole.
The argument for Bankole's exclusion was that he was not in the country when the transaction took place, whereas, the real reason is that, he is a favourite of President Umaru Yar'Adua who sources disclosed is ready to go to any length to keep him as the Speaker of the House of Representatives largely because of his state of origin; Ogun.
The fact that he does not see eye to eye with former President Olusegun Obasanjo placed him as a ready counter weight to the influence of Obasanjo in the state and in the South-West generally. Moreover, he is a tested loyalist of Yar'Adua.
What the fresh scandal portends is that Nefada who is not satisfied with his indictment in the EFCC report may be forced to carry out his earlier threat that he would drag down the Speaker with himself should he be negatively exposed to the outfall of the N2.3billion scam.
The Presidency has been sitting on top of the report for several weeks now making it impossible for the EFCC to carry out further action on the matter.
Details emanating from the House have shown that the assembly of the Honourables may soon be thrown into deeper ruckus. The latest ill-wind has come in the guise of 20 Peugeot 406, 3.0 Engine automobiles gift meant for the aides of the Speaker, and other Principal Officers of the House.
Sources close to the lower chamber of the National Assembly further disclosed that information of the transaction between PAN and the leadership of the House would have remained a top secret but for what insiders have described as Bankole's greed as he assigned five of the cars to his siblings who are neither official aides nor staff of the House. According to our sources, only about five aides of the principal officers got the cars while the rest of the cars were distributed to siblings of the Speaker as well as that of the principal officers.
It was the silent murmurings from the aides that resulted in a petition that exposed the secret deal between PAN and the leadership of the House, National Daily learnt
The 20 cars were presented to the principal officials of the lower House through the office of the Speaker, according to PAN, as a marketing strategy. But watchers believe it was a calculated attempt to assuage the leadership of the House who were also alarmed by the difference in the specification between what was agreed upon and what was eventually supplied in the N2.3 billion auto purchase scam. "The contrary, however, is the case as the vehicles are bribes to dissuade eyebrows being raised over the initial 350 lower specifications initially supplied," an insider who did not want his name mentioned said.
What may now trigger fresh trouble is that Bankole never knew that information about the gifts would leak to the aides of the affected Principal Officers who had started to make arrangements in preparation for the arrival of their cars. They are said not to be pleased with the Speaker for what they have described as his covetousness. These aides, according to sources, are threatening fire and brimstone; which may dampen the Presidency's attempt to salvage the embattled Speaker from the initial N2.3billion scandal.
National Daily had earlier reported that the report has been submitted to the Presidency by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that the report favours the shielding of Bankole from bearing directly the brunt of the PAN misdemeanor. Names prominent in the report are those of the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Nefada and the management of PAN.
The EFCC is also in a bit of a dilemma as what to do with the fresh scam considering the perceived stance of the presidency on matters that affect Bankole.
The argument for Bankole's exclusion was that he was not in the country when the transaction took place, whereas, the real reason is that, he is a favourite of President Umaru Yar'Adua who sources disclosed is ready to go to any length to keep him as the Speaker of the House of Representatives largely because of his state of origin; Ogun.
The fact that he does not see eye to eye with former President Olusegun Obasanjo placed him as a ready counter weight to the influence of Obasanjo in the state and in the South-West generally. Moreover, he is a tested loyalist of Yar'Adua.
What the fresh scandal portends is that Nefada who is not satisfied with his indictment in the EFCC report may be forced to carry out his earlier threat that he would drag down the Speaker with himself should he be negatively exposed to the outfall of the N2.3billion scam.
The Presidency has been sitting on top of the report for several weeks now making it impossible for the EFCC to carry out further action on the matter.
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