Bankole: Court summons NASS's, House of Reps' clerks over N37bn loan scam

AN Abuja HighCourt, on Tuesday, summoned the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Salisu Maikasuwa and the clerk of the House of Representatives, Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori, to appear before it today over the ongoing trial of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole and his deputy, Usman Bayero Nafada, who are facing a 17-count charge before the court.The trial judge, Justice Sulaiman Belgore, issued the order to the two lawmakers, as well as the Director of Finance of the National Assembly, Mr Bukoye Lasisi, following complaints by the prosecution counsel, Mr Festus Keyamo, that the NASS officials were under pressure from some powerful interests not to fulfil their initial commitment to stand as witnesses in the case.The court order entitled 'Summons To Witness,' was issued by Justice Belgore to compel the listed witnesses to appear before the court to today. The judge said the summon was issued based on the complaint by prosecution that the witnessess would not voluntarily appear, saying that 'it appears to me that by the proof of evidence that you are likely to give material evidence therein on behalf of the complainant and will not voluntarily appear for that purpose.'At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, an official of the Revenue, Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Salaries Wages and Incomes Commission, Samuel Naziga, revealed the package approved for the speaker and others members of the House.He also said his organisation did not know anything regarding any running cost for the lawmakers.
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