There appears to be a strain in the relationship
between former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and his
successor, Aminu Tambuwal, as well as the latter’s deputy, Emeka Ihedioha.
between former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and his
successor, Aminu Tambuwal, as well as the latter’s deputy, Emeka Ihedioha.
We learnt that for some time now, they have not been in talking
terms the way they used to be over issues bordering on agreement reached on the
Speaker’s apartment when Bankole was still in office on one hand and, on the
other hand, over issues relating to Bankole’s unpaid foreign travel allowances.
terms the way they used to be over issues bordering on agreement reached on the
Speaker’s apartment when Bankole was still in office on one hand and, on the
other hand, over issues relating to Bankole’s unpaid foreign travel allowances.
Sunday Independent gathered
that the bitterness in the trio’s relationship is linked to the house allocated
to Bankole before he became Speaker, following the monetisation exercise of
President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, which the leadership of the House
“agreed” should be rented, but along the line, the Tambuwal regime reneged.
that the bitterness in the trio’s relationship is linked to the house allocated
to Bankole before he became Speaker, following the monetisation exercise of
President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, which the leadership of the House
“agreed” should be rented, but along the line, the Tambuwal regime reneged.
According to our sources, Bankole and his principal officers
were said to have “agreed” that the house allocated to him be rented by the
House of Representatives for the Speaker because of its size and other
facilities therein pending when the Federal Capital Development Authority
(FCDA) will build a permanent official residential apartment for the Speaker.
were said to have “agreed” that the house allocated to him be rented by the
House of Representatives for the Speaker because of its size and other
facilities therein pending when the Federal Capital Development Authority
(FCDA) will build a permanent official residential apartment for the Speaker.
Sunday Independent gathered
that before the “deal” was struck, Bankole was already residing in his Guest
House at Asokoro which he privately arranged in his capacity as Speaker, given
that there was no official residence for him.
that before the “deal” was struck, Bankole was already residing in his Guest
House at Asokoro which he privately arranged in his capacity as Speaker, given
that there was no official residence for him.
During the week, this newspaper learnt that following
irreconcilable differences between Tambuwal and his other principal officers
privy to the understanding reached with Bankole over the apartment that the
House was to hire from him on rent, the former Speaker moved out of the Guest
House at Asokoro last month to his monetised apartment in Apo Quarters when it
became obvious that his colleagues had reneged on renting the place.
irreconcilable differences between Tambuwal and his other principal officers
privy to the understanding reached with Bankole over the apartment that the
House was to hire from him on rent, the former Speaker moved out of the Guest
House at Asokoro last month to his monetised apartment in Apo Quarters when it
became obvious that his colleagues had reneged on renting the place.
A dependable source close to Bankole told Sunday
Independent that the
former Speaker saw the development as a stab in the back and the indication
that his colleagues were not prepared to honour the understanding emerged when
Tambuwal opted to stay in an apartment arranged for him at Maitama by the FCDA
until the official residence of the Speaker is ready.
Independent that the
former Speaker saw the development as a stab in the back and the indication
that his colleagues were not prepared to honour the understanding emerged when
Tambuwal opted to stay in an apartment arranged for him at Maitama by the FCDA
until the official residence of the Speaker is ready.
Bankole had hoped that his successor would move into the
monetised apartment on Apo Phase 3, but was shocked when Tambuwal opted to stay
in the Maitama home.
monetised apartment on Apo Phase 3, but was shocked when Tambuwal opted to stay
in the Maitama home.
It was not possible to establish all the reasons Bankole decided
to relocate to his Apo Phase 3 home, but our source said the rent he was paying
for the private Speaker’s Guest House in Asokoro was becoming unbearable. For
instance, Bankole was said to have been renewing the rent in the last two years
and it was not unlikely he no longer has the money which runs into millions of
naira to pay as rent, hence the decision to move.
to relocate to his Apo Phase 3 home, but our source said the rent he was paying
for the private Speaker’s Guest House in Asokoro was becoming unbearable. For
instance, Bankole was said to have been renewing the rent in the last two years
and it was not unlikely he no longer has the money which runs into millions of
naira to pay as rent, hence the decision to move.
Although our source said Bankole’s annoyance is mostly with
Tambuwal and Ihedioha, and he may have stopped relating with them as he used to
(both being principal officers during his tenure and in a position to respect
the understanding they reached), the aides to both the Speaker and his deputy
said the trio’s relationship is still intact.
Tambuwal and Ihedioha, and he may have stopped relating with them as he used to
(both being principal officers during his tenure and in a position to respect
the understanding they reached), the aides to both the Speaker and his deputy
said the trio’s relationship is still intact.
Apart from the feeling of disappointment over failure of the
House leadership to rent his house, Bankole is also said to be concerned as to
why he is unable to collect his allowances running into millions from the
current House management, two years after leaving office. Bulk of the money was
from the Daily Travel Allowance (DTA) meant for the former Speaker and his
ex-aides.
House leadership to rent his house, Bankole is also said to be concerned as to
why he is unable to collect his allowances running into millions from the
current House management, two years after leaving office. Bulk of the money was
from the Daily Travel Allowance (DTA) meant for the former Speaker and his
ex-aides.
An aide to Tambuwal told Sunday Independent that his principal enjoys a robust
relationship with his predecessor; the same thing an aide to Ihedioha told this
weekly unofficially. “They do not have any issue,” one of the aides said.
relationship with his predecessor; the same thing an aide to Ihedioha told this
weekly unofficially. “They do not have any issue,” one of the aides said.
Tambuwal’s aide added: “Their relationship is very fine, very
cordial. Even the former Speaker’s younger brother, Tayo, is an aide to
Tambuwal. I am not aware they are having issues.”
cordial. Even the former Speaker’s younger brother, Tayo, is an aide to
Tambuwal. I am not aware they are having issues.”
Sunday Independent investigations
revealed, however, that the former Speaker and his former aides as well as
aides to Tambuwal and other workers in the National Assembly, have been on the
neck of the Clerk to pay them their DTA arrears which is believed to be in
excess of N300 million.
revealed, however, that the former Speaker and his former aides as well as
aides to Tambuwal and other workers in the National Assembly, have been on the
neck of the Clerk to pay them their DTA arrears which is believed to be in
excess of N300 million.
Regarding Bankole’s unpaid allowances and those of his former
aides, it was said that the Clerk of the House was in a better position to
speak on that, and that those who work with Tambuwal are also having issues
with their DTA.
aides, it was said that the Clerk of the House was in a better position to
speak on that, and that those who work with Tambuwal are also having issues
with their DTA.
For instance, another of Tambuwal’s aide noted that after
embarking on more than 40 local and foreign trips, the authorities are yet to
pay them their allowances, even when they are still being paid the old rate of
DTA after variation had reportedly been carried out. Incidentally, Bankole is claiming
to be owed a whopping N300 million from foreign travels alone and had written
to Tambuwal to pay him on that.
embarking on more than 40 local and foreign trips, the authorities are yet to
pay them their allowances, even when they are still being paid the old rate of
DTA after variation had reportedly been carried out. Incidentally, Bankole is claiming
to be owed a whopping N300 million from foreign travels alone and had written
to Tambuwal to pay him on that.
But we learnt that the Speaker referred his letter to the NASS
management since he does not have the final say on matters where such huge sums
are involved.
management since he does not have the final say on matters where such huge sums
are involved.
Apart from the aides to Tambuwal and Bankole, other political
aides and staff of National Assembly who served in the Sixth Assembly under the
Speakership of Bankole are not happy that almost two years after vacating
office, some of their entitlements are still being held on to by the management
of House of Representatives.
aides and staff of National Assembly who served in the Sixth Assembly under the
Speakership of Bankole are not happy that almost two years after vacating
office, some of their entitlements are still being held on to by the management
of House of Representatives.
Some of the affected aides of principal officers of the sixth
Assembly who spoke with Sunday Independentunder
anonymity expressed sadness and frustrations over the refusal of the management
to settle their outstanding allowances, especially DTA.
Assembly who spoke with Sunday Independentunder
anonymity expressed sadness and frustrations over the refusal of the management
to settle their outstanding allowances, especially DTA.
According to them, they were not paid the statutory DTA while on
official trip, as they were told then that there was no money to settle the
bills.
official trip, as they were told then that there was no money to settle the
bills.
They were allegedly promised that the money would be paid, but
nothing came their way till they left office.
nothing came their way till they left office.
Some of them are, however, laying the blame at the feet of the
current Clerk of the House, Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori, who they say is
refusing to pay them now, even when money is available to the parliament.
current Clerk of the House, Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori, who they say is
refusing to pay them now, even when money is available to the parliament.
The Clerk, one of the aggrieved aides said, has consistently
refused to part with the money, even after Tambuwal had waded into the issue
and instructed him to commence payment of the debts as soon as money is
available.
refused to part with the money, even after Tambuwal had waded into the issue
and instructed him to commence payment of the debts as soon as money is
available.
For instance, Sunday Independent gathered that when some former
aides of Bankole petitioned Tambuwal on the matter, he handed them over to his
Chief of Staff with stern directive that he should take them to the Clerk of
the House for immediate attention.
aides of Bankole petitioned Tambuwal on the matter, he handed them over to his
Chief of Staff with stern directive that he should take them to the Clerk of
the House for immediate attention.
“Though, some of the staff of Speaker Tambuwal are also being
owed their DTA, he specifically gave instructions that the backlog of our DTA
be paid, but why the Clerk is refusing to pay is what I can’t understand,”
another of the affected aides said.
owed their DTA, he specifically gave instructions that the backlog of our DTA
be paid, but why the Clerk is refusing to pay is what I can’t understand,”
another of the affected aides said.
He disclosed further that there is a plan to draw the attention
of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to their plight, as they
are of the opinion that the Clerk must have diverted the money meant for their
payment for personal use.
of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to their plight, as they
are of the opinion that the Clerk must have diverted the money meant for their
payment for personal use.
The Clerk could not be reached for comments over the
allegations.
allegations.
Omonori was recently invited by the EFCC to help the
Commission in the pending case of alleged fraud involving Bankole.
Commission in the pending case of alleged fraud involving Bankole.
Omolori was a Prosecution Witness (PW) in the controversial N38
billion loan obtained by the leadership of the sixth session of the House under
Bankole.
billion loan obtained by the leadership of the sixth session of the House under
Bankole.
Bankole and his erstwhile deputy, Usman Nafada, were slammed
with a 17-count charge of criminal breach of trust, and dishonest use of House
of Representatives bank account to obtain loan, before Justice Suleiman
Belgore.
with a 17-count charge of criminal breach of trust, and dishonest use of House
of Representatives bank account to obtain loan, before Justice Suleiman
Belgore.
Justice Belgore had since struck out the case.
Meanwhile, indications emerged during the week that the FCDA may
not be in a hurry to complete the official residence of the Speaker and the
Senate President, believed to be located somewhere within the National Assembly
Complex.
not be in a hurry to complete the official residence of the Speaker and the
Senate President, believed to be located somewhere within the National Assembly
Complex.
According to Sunday Independent findings, the pace of work does not
indicate that the desired seriousness is being attached to the project despite
the impression being created by the authorities of the FCDA and huge sum the
FCT ministry had proposed in the 2013 budget.
indicate that the desired seriousness is being attached to the project despite
the impression being created by the authorities of the FCDA and huge sum the
FCT ministry had proposed in the 2013 budget.
This newspaper’s investigation indicates that work for the
projects is still at the consultancy stage.
projects is still at the consultancy stage.
The authorities of the FCDA also confirmed that to Sunday
Independent at the
weekend when they were contacted.
Independent at the
weekend when they were contacted.
Nosike Ogbuenyi, the Special Adviser, Media, to the Minister of
the FCT, Bala Mohammed, told Sunday Independent that the choice of the National
Assembly Complex is for security reasons and an attempt to deepen our
democracy.
the FCT, Bala Mohammed, told Sunday Independent that the choice of the National
Assembly Complex is for security reasons and an attempt to deepen our
democracy.
He added that the former site proposed by the FCDA for the
Senate President, Speaker and their deputies’ official houses was downscaled
because of security reasons and the place now used for guest houses, noting
that a site in NASS Complex had been mapped out accordingly.
Senate President, Speaker and their deputies’ official houses was downscaled
because of security reasons and the place now used for guest houses, noting
that a site in NASS Complex had been mapped out accordingly.
However, Ogbuenyi was not prepared to be drawn into the timeline
for the projects since the 2013 budget of the FCT is still awaiting approval at
the National Assembly. “It is at the consultancy level and the site mapped out;
we are optimistic work would soon start, all other things being equal,” he
added.
for the projects since the 2013 budget of the FCT is still awaiting approval at
the National Assembly. “It is at the consultancy level and the site mapped out;
we are optimistic work would soon start, all other things being equal,” he
added.
Source: Daily Independent
