Our investigations revealed that in the letter of invitation dated August 6, 2012 and signed by Olufunke Adetayo, Head, Economic Governance, the Speaker was supposed to be at the EFCC office on August 13 for interrogation but has refused to honour the invitation leading to queries whether he is above the law.
It would be recalled that Speaker Benson was impeached and removed from office few months ago by majority of members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly but was reinstated following the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Dame Patience Jonathan.
“This Commission is investigating a case of conspiracy, abuse of office and diversion of public funds in which the need to obtain clarification from you becomes imperative”, the letter stated.
Continuing, the EFCC letter to the Speaker said, “in view of the above you are kindly requested for interview by the undersigned through Mr. Obioha Okorie on 13th August, 2012 at Block C, No 5 Fomella Street, Off Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja by 10 am prompt”.
“This request is in pursuant to section 38 Sub 1 and 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( Establishment) Act 2004 No 4.”, the letter added.
According to very reliable sources, on receipt of the letter, Speaker Benson who is a strong loyalist of the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, was said to have written to the EFCC claiming that August 13, 2012 was not convenient for him and that it should be shifted to August 20, 2012.
“However, he still refused to honour the invitation on August 20, 2012, rather, he has been trying to use his godmother in Abuja who made him a Speaker to avoid honouring the invitation”, one of our sources said
Meanwhile, Speaker Benson, Governor Seriake Dickson and others have in a separate case been taken to a Yenagoa court by the Former Chairman of Southern Ijaw local government council, Chief Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe asking the court to nullify his purported removal from office. Orunimighe, who was one of the four council bosses removed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on July 26, is asking for N100 million damages against the defendants for unconstitutionally removing him from office.
According to a politician from Bayelsa State who spoke to ionigeria.com anonymously, “it is unfortunate that the Speaker who accused the removed local government council chairmen of misapplication of funds is now facing investigation over a similar offence”
In the petition, the Civil Society Group alleged that on May 2, 2012, Hon. Benson forwarded a memorandum to the Governor of Bayelsa requesting for approval and release of the sum of N78,000,000 to enable members of the House of Assembly attend the Parliamentary Conference in South Africa. On June 28, 2012, the Governor approved the request and ordered the release of the money to the Speaker who received the money and disbursed it to other members of the House.
The Speaker and other members of the House were alleged to have proceeded on leave after adjoining sittings of the House.
“Unknown to Bayelsans, the Honourable Speaker and other members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly allegedly never attended the conference but simply allegedly converted the funds given to them for their personal use. While the conference which started on the 29th of June was underway, the Honourable Speaker and members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly were reportedly and allegedly engaged in a frolic of their own in Nigeria until the 7th of July 2012”, the Group said in their petition.
The Group further stated that the Speaker and the other legislators left the country for South Africa on July 7 for a Conference that was slated to end on July 8, 2012. When they got to South Africa in the morning of July 8, they went straight to their Hotel without attending the Conference.
When they eventually returned to Nigeria on July 10, 2012, they allegedly announced to the people of Bayelsa State that the Conference they never attended was very successful and that they were better equipped to perform their constitutional duties for the benefit of the people of Bayelsa State.
The Speaker through his Press Secretary, Mr. Piriye Jonathan has however denied the accusation. He stated that although they got to South Africa late, they still attended the conference. He attributed the late arrival in South Africa to delay in procurement of South African visa
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