Boco Edet
5 November 2008
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola has ordered immediate investigation into the N2.4 billion car scandal rocking the House of Representatives.
A statement issued by the ICPC yesterday said the investigation was ordered following a petition from a Non-Governmental Organisation, the Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).The organisation petitioned ICPC on October 26 urging the anti-graft commission to probe the purchase of 380 cars by the House of Representatives.
In the petition, SERAP pleaded with the ICPC to look into three main areas as follows:
"The commission should fully and transparently investigate the allegations of corruption in the N2.4 billion vehicles purchase by the leadership of the House of Representatives and the claims by the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited. The commission should investigate whether the claims by PAN amounted to a cover-up."
"The commission should make public the findings of its investigations.The commission should ensure the recovery of any money that is the subject of corruption and ensure that those suspected to be responsible are brought to justice."
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has already received a petition forwarded by Human Rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo on the same matter though no definite action has been taken on it yet.
Keyamo requested the EFCC to probe the House of Representatives over alleged misappropriation of almost N500 million in the car deal.
The petition said, "Interestingly, what the company quoted is not what was eventually supplied. What the company quoted for was the 407 ST sport (Automatic) at a unit price of N6, 209,175. What was eventually supplied was the 407 Comfort Automatic which is shown to be worth N5,100,000. The difference therefore per unit of car supplied is N1,109,175. This translates to a total of N421, 486,500 misappropriated by the House under the leadership of Dimeji Bankole."
PAN in a reply to the EFCC said its prices were predicated on competition, market trends and promotional sales.
Since the uproar followed by Keyamo's appearance before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, the House of Representatives has directed all persons aggrieved by the purchases of the controversial 380 units of cars to forward their complaints to ICPC and EFCC.
It has also expressed readiness to face the anti-graft agencies when called upon.
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Simple put the Speaker of the house come across as childish and lacks in-depth common sense. I am aware that he did well in the private sector but that was under the co tail of his father and other family members.
What kind of a leader would embark in this kind of frivolous spending at a time Nigeria in particular and the world in general is facing financial and economical tsunami. This man and his team lack judgment and character to lead such a revered body.
The only difference between him and Madam Etteh the hair dresser former Speaker is that the later was clandestine with her vaulting desire. Mr. Bankole must go and the heat to kick him out on.