Court summons N'Assembly clerks over N37b alleged loan scam

A FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has summoned the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Salisu Maikasuwa and his House of Representatives counterpart, Mr. Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori, to appear before it today over the on-going trial of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his Deputy, Usman Bayero Nafada.Bankole and Nafada are facing a 17-count criminal charge before the court.The trial Judge, Sulaiman Belgore, issued the order to the two officials and the Director of Finance of the National Assembly, Bukoye Lasisi, following complaints by the Prosecution Counsel, Festus Keyamo, that the Assembly officials were under pressure from some powerful interests not to fulfill their initial commitment to standing as witnesses in the case.Keyamo told the court: 'My lord, I want to put it on record that those who were supposed to come as witnesses are developing cold feet. Specifically, the Clerk of the House who was one of the witnesses you signed their witness summon this morning. From available information, they are being pressurised not to give evidence in this court.'The court order entitled 'Summons to witness' was issued by Justice Belgore to compel the listed witnesses to appear before the court today.The judge said the summon was issued based on the complaint by prosecution that the witnesses would not voluntarily appear, stressing 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 yesterday, an official of the Revenue, Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFAC), Samuel Naziga, revealed the emolument package approved for the Speaker and other members of the House.
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