BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

ABUJA – Speaker of the House of Representative, Oladimeji Bankole, yesterday, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that it was bereft of the jurisdiction to compel either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to prosecute him over  alleged N2.3 billion car scam.

He challenged the powers of the court to issue an order of mandamus compelling the anti-graft agencies to initiate criminal proceedings against him on the basis of the suit filed before it by one Chief Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan, just as he queried the locus-standi of the plaintiff to seek his prosecution.

Arguing through his lawyer, Mr A.T Shoremi, Bankole contended that the provisions of the Fiscal and Responsibility Act 2007, did not accord the plaintiff requisite locus to seek such orders against him, insisting that there was no reasonable cause of action to warrant the pendency of the substantive suit before the high court.

Consequently, he urged Justice Gabriel Kolawole, who is presiding over the case, to not only dismiss it, but also award substantial cost against the plaintiff.