THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have stepped into the purchase of N2.4 billion cars by the House of Representatives.

Indeed, EFCC officials last week quizzed top management staff of the National Assembly who awarded the contract, while the ICPC has set up a panel of investigation to probe the purchase.

Vanguard gathered yesterday that EFCC officials might also visit Peugeot headquarters in France to clarify some issues raised by Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) in its letter to the Commission recently explaining its own side of the story.

Another team of officials was at the Kaduna office of PAN to peruse documents on the contract.

Speaker Dimeji Bankole speaking to Vanguard on phone from Kano yesterday confirmed that EFCC officials were indeed at the House last week to quiz management staff of the National Assembly on the issue.

Mr. Bankole said he gave the EFCC the go ahead for the interrogation after duly informing him of their mission.

The EFCC head of media and publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi could not be reached for comments but PAN deputy head of corporate communications, Alhaji Rabiu Ibrahim said: "All I can tell you is that we are cooperating fully with the EFCC.

Also, the ICPC has begun the probe of N2.4billion Peugeot cars by the House of Representatives.

The probe is being handled by a panel of investigators, the ICPC confirmed yesterday.

But it was silent on the number of investigators making the panel.

According to the Media Consultant to ICPC, Mr Fola Olamiti, the anti-graft agency convoked the panel following a petition from a non-governmental organisation, the Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The organisation had on October 26, 2008 petitioned the ICPC urging it to probe the purchase of 380 cars by the House of Representatives.