N2.8m scam: Bankole family disowns accused

By
-
0
169
 BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI ABUJA-Former governor of Adamawa State, Mr Boni Haruna, yesterday, approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to quash the 28-count criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The ex-governor, who was accused of conniving with three other accused persons to illegally divert N93million from the coffers of the state while he was in office, insisted that the proof of evidence that was tendered against him by the anti-graft agency failed to establish a prima facie case capable of warranting his prosecution. In a motion on notice he filed through his counsel, Chief Ricky Tarfa, SAN, yesterday, Haruna, alongside his co-accused persons, Mohammed Inuwa Bassi and John Babani Elias, further challenged the jurisdiction of the High Court to try them over the alleged offences levelled against them by the EFCC.

LAGOS – The family of the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, has said that one Toyin Bankole who is currently undergoing trial in an Abeokuta court for alleged visa-related offence is not a sibling of the former lawmaker.

In a statement by Mr. Ayo Bankole, younger brother of the former speaker, the family explained that Toyin Bankole is not a blood brother to Dimeji Bankole.

According to Ayo Bankole: “the family had ignored newspaper reports initially, but  it has become necessary to make the clarification as the erroneous report persisted and was beginning to take a life of its own.  This unfortunate linkage has caused the family and the former Speaker a lot of embarrassment.”

He said: “the misinformation has also spread through the internet and we have read with dismay the unfortunate comments by Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora which was predicated on inaccurate information. While we have nothing against Toyin Bankole, it is very important that we set the records straight.”

There were a number of news reports in a section of the media which presented Toyin Bankole as the younger brother of the former Speaker, Dimeji Bankole.

It will be recalled that some time last month, Toyin Bankole was arraigned alongside one Segun Baruwa before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abeokuta, for allegedly defrauding one Modinat Odunlami of N2.8 million. Both accused persons were alleged to have conspired to commit fraud by collecting money from Odunlami with false intent.

Comments are moderated. Please keep them clean and brief.

Link:
N2.8m scam: Bankole family disowns accused