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Nigerians hoping to
see the outcome of investigations into the N9 billion scandal in the
House of Representatives, may have to wait a little longer.

Investigations by
NEXT indicate that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related
offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), which are both investigating the allegations, may
have hit a brick wall and may not conclude investigations anytime soon.

“Though our
investigations are ongoing, we are presently stuck at some point, but
we will ensure we complete our investigations,” a senior official of
the ICPC close to the investigation said at the weekend.

Indications are
that the cause of the ‘temporary halt’ mentioned by the ICPC source
involves a man believed to be behind the companies that received the
inflated contract. The man, who is believed to have fled to England, is
being trailed by the anti-corruption agencies.

“Already, we have
confirmed that there was inflation of prices in the contract. But, the
man central to the companies that secured the contracts escaped to the
UK when we wanted to bring him in,” an ICPC investigator told NEXT.

The investigator,
who declined to mention the suspect’s name, explained that the
commission might seek the man’s extradition if he fails to return to
the country to explain his role in the scandal.

The fraud
allegation started in the House of Representatives when some members
accused the speaker, Dimeji Bankole and the house leadership of
mismanaging N9 billion of the N11 billion capital vote received by the
house between 2008 and 2009.

The legislators,
who called themselves “the progressives” and led by Dino Melaye,
addressed a press statement on June 16, 2010 during which they gave Mr
Bankole one week to resign or be removed.

The legislators,
who also called for a probe of the house finances, further accused Mr.
Bankole of authorizing “a spurious, vexatious, and reckless expenditure
profile at a time when there is so much economic hardship.”

In other to prove
that they were right with their accusations, “the progressives”
submitted their petition and accusations to the EFCC and ICPC for
investigation.

Inflated Purchases

Some of the items
the “progressives” accuse Mr. Bankole of purchasing at inflated prices
include torchlights, which have a market price of less than N2000 per
unit, at N18000 each and 400 units of Samsung 40 inches LCD television
sets, which cost N160,000, but were purchased at a unit price of N525,
000. Others are the purchase of 800 units of HP Desktop computers,
which cost N160,000 but were purchased at N330,000; and sharp digital
photocopy machines (model 5316), purchased at N270,000 as against
N160,000.

“The progressives”
also accused the house leadership of wasteful expenditure in the
purchase of seven SUV cars for Mr. Bankole and his deputy, Bayero
Nafada.

When contacted to
give the official position on the status of their investigations, the
spokesmen of the two agencies gave similar positions.

“We are on it. Our
investigations are ongoing,” said Folu Olamiti, the resident media
consultant of the ICPC, who refused to give further comments. Femi
Babafemi, the EFCC spokesman asked this reporter to call back to
confirm the status of the case but efforts to contact him later were
unsuccessful.

Even the judiciary stalls

In the heat of the
allegations by “the progressives”, the House of Representatives
suspended Mr. Melaiye and 10 other members indefinitely, following a
rowdy and violent session.

The suspended
members, however, approached the court demanding a reversal of their
suspension and that their arrears since their suspension be paid in
full. After listening to the arguments of both parties, Muhammed Adamu,
judge of the federal high court Abuja who is presiding over the matter
announced that the judgement would be delivered on November 15.

After two
postponements however, Mr. Adamu is yet to give his ruling. The case
has now been adjourned to December 2 for ruling on the legality or
otherwise of the legislators’ suspension.

Two of the eleven members who were suspended have been recalled by
the House of Representatives. The lawmakers, Ehioge-West Idahosa and
Gbenga Onigbogi, withdrew their case from the court and apologized for
their actions.