Abuja, Nigeria - On the same day it arraigned former House Speaker Dimeji Bankole for alleged corruption, Nigeria's anti-graft Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday interrogated six principal officers of the former House of Representatives, as it widens its probe into the affairs of the legislative chamber. Those interrogated were former Deputy Speaker Usman Nafada, former Majority Leader Tunde Akogun, former Minority Leader Ali Ndume, Baba Shehu Agaie, Sulaiman Kawu and Bello Mohammed. Though the new House Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal (who was the Deputy Chief Whip in the former House) and his current deputy Emeka Ihedioha (former Chief Whip) were implicated in the corruption allegations, they were not invited for interrogation.

Bankole had claimed that the principal officers were the direct beneficiaries of the 10 billion naira loan taken by the House, for which the former Speaker is also being investigated.

Earlier Wednesday, a Federal High Court in the capital city of Abuja ordered Mr. Bankole to be remanded in EFCC custody, after he pleaded not guilty to corruption charges.

He was accused of contract inflating to the tune of 894 million naira (US$1=150 Naira).

Pana 09/06/2011