Our investigations disclosed that sequel to the conclusion of investigations by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force on the Petition by a Civil Society Group, Transparency and Good Governance Coalition, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Unit referred the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federal for legal advice.
In a December 21, 2012 letter to the Bayelsa State DPP and signed on his behalf by E.K. Ugwu Esq., an Assistant Director, Adoke said, “this office has found that there is a prima facie case of conspiracy and fraudulent misappropriation and stealing by conversion of public funds against the leadership of the present Bayelsa State House of Assembly, to wit, Hon. Konbowei Benson Friday (Speaker), Hon. Victor Otonye Sam Ateki (Deputy Speaker) and Mr. Aaron Nicodemus Timiye (the Clerk of the House).
Continuing, the AGF said, “it is on facts that the said Conference was meant for the House leadership and all other members were at the ‘observer status. In this regard, these other members should be exonerated from the alleged offences as the House leadership were the brains behind the whole scenario, however, some of these other members of the House should be used as prosecution witnesses during the trial---“
The matter, according to, the letter was referred to the Bayelsa state DPP for trial in Bayelsa State High Court because the offences were committed in Bayelsa State and the money stolen and misappropriated also belong to the Bayelsa State government.
Our investigations further revealed that there have been subterranean moves right from the Police Special Fraud Unit to kill the case but the fact that Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), a renowned human rights activist is the lawyer to the petitioners has been a major deterrent against sweeping the matter under the carpet.
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