Nigeria: Trial of Nigeria House Former Speaker Mr Bankole stalled
By Correspondent Chinyere Ogbonna – The trial of the former speaker of the Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole has been stalled.
This followed an application filed on his behalf by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo praying the court to disqualify the prosecutor, Mr Festus Keyamo from prosecuting the case.
Former speaker of the Nigeria’s House of Representatives Mr Dimeji Bankole in the centre
At the resumed hearing of the case, Chief Awomolo who had earlier filed an application seeking to quash the seventeen (17) count charge preferred against the former speaker, Mr. Bankole by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] told the court that Mr Keyamo would be biased in his prosecution of the case.
The prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo, however told the court that the application is baseless and lacks legal backing.
With the fresh application, Justice Donatus Okorowo ruled that the two applications be consolidated and adjourned the case to the seventeenth of October 2011 when the court will decide whether or not to disqualify the prosecutor, Mr. Keyamo.
The charge which was filed on behalf of the commission by Mr. Festus Keyamo chronicled series of allegations bordering on fraudulent purchase of units of Range Rover and Mercedes Benz cars, computer units, scanners and other accessories amounting to eight hundred and ninety-four million naira (N894million).
