Reprieve came the way of Nigeria's former Number 4 citizen, Rt Hon. Dimeji Bankole on Friday as a Federal High Court in Abuja discharged and acquitted him on charges bordering on fraud and abuse of office.
Justice Evoh Chukwu, in a ruling on a no-case submission by Bankole, held that the EFCC “failed woefully” to establish a prima facie case against the ex-Speaker in the N874million contract fraud charge against him.
In the ruling that lasted about 2 hours, Justice Chukwu held that the prosecution led by Festus Keymo failed to make out a case against the accused person.
According to the Judge: The prosecution failed to link the ex-Speaker to all the alleged offences, particularly when it was unable to establish that Bankole was the House of Reps Accounting Officer who handled its contract transactions or that he was involved in contract inflation, contract fraud and bid rigging.
On hearing the judgement, Hon Bankole, dressed in white native attire, succumbed to emotion and wept...
The EFCC had in 2011 filed a 16-count charge against Bankole, and on which basis he was later arraigned.
Bankole pleaded not guilty to the charge.
“In the end, the no-case submission of the accused person succeeds. The accused is hereby discharged and acquitted,” the Judge ruled and retired to his chamber.
As Bankole tried to put his cap on his head, tears flowed freely from his eyes, wiping the tears with his hand.
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