EFCC didn’t try to arrest me – Bankole

Sources had earlier told Weekly Trust that there actually was an attempt to arrest the former Speaker, but it could not be carried out as an unnamed top-ranking police officer appeared on the scene and intervened, asking the EFCC operatives to allow the ex-Speaker report to the anti-graft agency’s offices by himself.   But a […]

Sources had earlier told Weekly Trust that there actually was an attempt to arrest the former Speaker, but it could not be carried out as an unnamed top-ranking police officer appeared on the scene and intervened, asking the EFCC operatives to allow the ex-Speaker report to the anti-graft agency’s offices by himself.

 

But a statement made available to Weekly Trust and signed by Bankole’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Bakare yesterday said that, contrary to widespread speculations that the outgoing speaker was arrested or resisted EFCC arrest , “The speaker has informed officials of EFCC of his intention to honour their invitation on Monday June, 2011 at 2pm.”

The statement read in part: “Following Bankole’s letter to the EFCC Chairman on some procedural in his invitation by EFCC over investigation activities, the anti-corruption agency has sent its men to Bankole to renew the invitation and Bankole has given a Monday date for appearance.”

Bankole said he chose to appear before the anti-graft agency on Monday because he had already scheduled series of meetings in Abuja and Lagos for the weekend with various groups including personal aides as part of his valedictory activities contrary to insinuation that he intended to travel out today to the United Kingdom.

Our reporter visited the outgoing Speaker’s official residence located at the Apo Legislative Quarters and confirmed that Bankole had a valedictory meeting with some staff of the National Assembly from 3pm to 5:30pm and had earlier attended Friday prayers at the National Mosque.