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Nigeria Launches Corruption Investigation into House Leadership

   Kim Lewis 22 June 2010

   At least one member of Nigeria's parliament was injured Tuesday when a
   fight broke out between lawmakers.
   The  trouble  began  after  the  House of Representatives suspended 11
   members  who  had  accused the speaker of corruption. Reports from the
   scene  say punches were thrown and that one lawmaker suffered a broken
   hand or arm.
   The  group  of  House members, who call themselves "The Progressives,"
   demanded  a  probe  into  allegations  that  Speaker Oladimeji Bankole
   embezzled millions of dollars.
   In  response  to  the allegations, Nigeria's  anti-corruption agency,
   the   Economic   and  Financial  Crimes  Commission  has  launched  an
   investigation  into  the financial activities of Mr. Bankole and other
   top officials of the House.

   Chinedu  Offor  is  on assignment in Nigeria and is covering the story
   from Abuja, where the investigation was launched.

   âToday,  was  a rowdy session at the premises of the Nigerian House of
   Representatives  as  members  of  the  Economic  and  Financial Crimes
   Commission  started  investigating  the Speaker of the House.  Dimeji
   Bankole  is  third in line of succession if something should happen to
   the  President.   Heâs been accused of corruption by fellow members.Â
   They  say  he  has misappropriated about 100-million U-S dollars.  So
   the  anti-corruption agency has swung into action and is investigating
   Mr. Bankole and other officials of the House,â said Offor.

   Bankole  denies the allegations and some officials say the charges are
   politically  motivated.   However,  Offor  said if proven the charges
   could lead to impeachment of Bankole.

   âWhat  they  intend  to  do  is  impeach the Speaker, âsaid Offor. The
   agency  head,  Â Farida Waziri has set up a panel to probe the Speaker
   of  the  House  of  Representatives  and other officers.   âThey are
   going to probe the Speaker, and his spending habits and if anything is
   found  they  are  going  to  turn  the  evidence  over  to  the  state
   prosecutors  and  fellow  members  of the House of Representatives and
   that  can set the stage for impeachment of the Speakerâ, Offor went on
   to explain.

   Offor  says this type of investigation goes to the heart of the matter
   of  President  Goodluck  Jonathanâs renewed pledge to fight corruption
   and if the allegations are proven or if they find a âsmoking gunâ, the
   President  will  most likely have no option but to support the removal
   of the speaker.

   âThat  might  play into the calculation for next yearâs election as to
   whether the President will run or not,â said Offor.

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