Alleged fraud: Court okays bid to probe Bankole

By Ise-Oluwa Ige

ABUJA—A Federal high court sitting in Abuja yesterday gave its nod to a request by the Registered Trustees of Human Rights Justice and Peace Foundation, HRJPF, to commence a legal move towards compelling EFCC to probe Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole.

The trial high court judge, Justice Adamu Bello gave his assent yesterday following an exparte application moved by the applicant.

HRJPF is a human rights group with objective to cleanse the society of corruption.

The group had approached the court with an ex parte application, seeking its leave to institute an action with a view to obtaining a mandatory order of court compelling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate Bankole for alleged financial misconduct and abuse of office.

In the application brought pursuant to order 34 rules 1 [a], 3, 5, 6, 9 and 10 of the Federal High court [Civil Procedure] Rules 2009, the group had also prayed the court for an order of mandamus directing EFCC to submit to it [court] details of its investigation into the allegation of fraud against the Speaker, showing that the said allegation is “frivolous” or “unfounded”.