Hello Friends!
In the News Today: (Courtesy Sahara Reporters)
Justice Suleiman Belgore of the Abuja High Court today dismissed the corruption charges brought against former speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy. The judge ruled that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had not brought a solid case against the duo and ruled that they have no case to answer.
The controversial ruling has set free the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his deputy, Usman Bayero Nafada of complicity in the N40 billion loan scam.
Justice Belgore told a bewildered courtroom today that the actions of the former speaker of the house who used the account of house to obtain personal bank loans were morally wrong but not criminal. He further stated that the offences of misappropriation of public funds should be heaped on the clerk and not the former speaker of the house and his deputy.
EFCC sources told Saharareporters that they had expected today's ruling because throughout his arrest and incarceration, the former speaker refused to be interrogated and persistently boasted that he would be acquitted eventually.
Bankole looted the accounts of the House of Representatives as speaker using the public account to borrow money from the banks, which were eventually laundered to buy choice properties at giveaway prices. Through such acts of money laundering his family is the proud owner of the NITEL building in Lagos as well as his former residence which was sold to him for meager N40 million.
Last words: Any trained and qualified Legal Practitioner in Nigeria/that schooled in Nigeria, would undoubtedly agree that Belgore is one of the few respected Judges in the Country. However, this cannot negate the fact that he is NOT beyond mistakes of Law or Morals... How can Belgore (with due "respect") state that the mis appropriation charges should be heaped on the House Clerk and not the Speaker (Dimeji Bankole?) Would the house Clerk act on his own without adequate instructions from the Speaker of the House? In as much as there is some form of "recent hope" in our judicial system (as seen in the judgement of Al Mustapha), we must not forget the fact that we still need to deal with the evil beast called "corruption in all tiers of government". However, let's also look at the need to interpret the Law adequately...Where there is no clear evidence against any individual, he is free to bounce! If EFCC cannot clearly prove on the surface before any Law court that Bankole should be held accountable for fraud, the Law must take its course. Discharged & Acquitted! This is the irony of it all...Deep within our hearts, we know the truth, but it's all hidden out there, somewhere beyond our reach...
XOXO
Simply Cheska.
"morally wrong not criminal"this is exactly how the local governments were fixing the salaries of their state workers in the bank,delaying their salaries and making money out of it....how then can the court of law deal with this morally wrong issue in the government.
ReplyDeleteHmm, painful play of events. For starters, the court only dealt with the matter brought before it based on the facts presented to it. If the charges are re phrased and re presented, then the court would handle the matter differently. I am as shocked as anyone out there...
ReplyDelete