Posted by By JAMES OJO, Abuja on
The storm is certainly gathering for Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his fellow federal lawmakers in leadership positions.
• Over N.4bn bullet-proof cars; TV sets, PCs
• It's not true - Speaker
The storm is certainly gathering for Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his fellow federal lawmakers in leadership positions.
Even as the controversy generated by the purchase of 380 Peugeot 407 cars allegedly at prohibitive cost is yet to abate, another scandal of larger proportions is brewing. Again, the bulk of the problem might stem from what seems an obsession for state-of-the-art automobiles.
Classified documents available to Sunday Sun suggest that the Speaker authorized the expenditure of a whopping N333.5million on bullet-proof vehicles for himself, his deputy and the House leader.
Specifically, at the meeting of the Body of Principal Officers of the House held on May 28, approval was reportedly conveyed for the purchase of three Mercedes Benz (Treated) S-600 cars for N158.4million for the Speaker and his deputy. Each of the bullet-proof cars costs N52.8million.
Other purchases reportedly approved included two Range Rover (Treated) SUVs at N57.2million each - totaling N114.4million - for the Speaker and his deputy; one Range Rover (Special) at the cost of N30million for the Speaker, as well as one Range Rover V8 for the House Leader purchased at the cost of N27million.
Although the contract was reportedly awarded through the National Assembly Management on June 30, sources said at the weekend that it was doubtful if the winner - M/S Wadatau Global Co of Kano - got it through competitive bidding.
Yet, N83.875million part-payment representing 25 per cent of the contract sum was allegedly paid with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cheques 00001922, 00001923 and 00001924 of September 12, 2008.
At the same meeting of the House Principal Officers, the lawmakers reportedly approved the purchase of one Toyota Lexus GX for the Chief Whip at the cost of N13.75million.
At the weekend, it could not be established if the contract beneficiary - M/S Kymco Motor Nigeria Limited - was properly listed in the records of the Corporate Affairs Commission. Yet it got paid N13.75million through CBN Cheque number 00001925 (including 5% Tax & 5% VAT).
"Needless to say," our source insisted, "that there was no competitive bidding process."
Besides luxury cars, the legislators, also at the meeting of May 28, reportedly approved the purchase of 400 units of Samsung LNS341 LCD television sets at N525,000 each regardless that the actual unit price, according to our source, is about N200,000. They also voted funds for 800 units of HP Compaq 5700 Desktop Computers with HP 2015 Laser Jet Printer and UPS at N330,000 per set. The average market price, it was also learnt, is N180,000 per set.
Another scandalous purchase that the lawmakers reportedly approved were 400 units of Sharp 5316 Digital Copiers at N270,000 each whereas the average market price is said to be N130,000 each.
The Special Adviser to the Speaker, Kayode Akinmade, however, told Sunday Sun that the fresh allegation was baseless and the handiwork of some lawmakers who are not happy with the achievements recorded by Bankole in one year.
Akinmade added that it was another grand design to tarnish the image of the Speaker by aggrieved members over the composition of committees.
"November 1 (yesterday) will be the exact one year that he took over as the Speaker of the House. As you know, he has not done anything outside due process. But you will also agree with me that some people are not happy that under him, corruption had been exposed through the various investigations carried out by the House. So you can understand that some people are not happy with the campaign against corruption and they would go to any length to smear his name," he said.
Akinmade also insisted that since he came into office, Bankole has not done anything wrong as being alleged.
He said that the process for the purchase of cars for principal officers had been on before Bankole assumed office, adding that if it was true, due process would have been followed.
The spokesman explained that any car bought for the use of the Speaker belong to the House and not a personal property of the person occupying the seat, noting that that was why the fleet of cars used by Mrs Etteh was still the one been used by Bankole.
"If any car is bought for the use of the Speaker, they are not the personal property of Bankole. They belong to the House. This is the practice, and in any case, it was not true that customized Jeeps were bought by the Speaker," he said.