I Was Contracted To Discredit Bankole, Others Over Cars' Purchase -Farouk

Malam Umar Farouk, a human rights activist, recently said that he was contracted to discredit Speaker Dimeji Bankole and the House' leadership over the N2.3 billion cars' purchase.
Farouk said this while testifying before members of the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the House of Representatives in Abuja.
He said that he met Rep. Independence Ogunewe (PDP-Imo) through a friend on Oct. 28 at about 6 p.m.in his office at the National Assembly complex.
Farouk said that Rep. Gbenga Oduwaye (PDP-Ogun), Rep. Festus Adegoke (PDP-Oyo) and Rep. Kayode Amusan (PDP-Ogun) were also at his meeting with Ogunewe.
``Mr Chairman, during the conversation, Ogunewe solicited my support to follow the footsteps of Festus Keyamo in the struggle to discredit the leadership of the House of Representatives on the cars' contract controversy,'' he said.
Farouk alleged that N200,000 was initially given to him to mobilise the support of the pro-democracy groups and organise a press conference to press for the immediate resignation of the Speaker.
He said that he was also mandated to print ``Bankole-must-go'' leaflets and distribute them at strategic locations in Abuja , so as garner public sympathy for their campaign.
He said that Ogunewe also gave him some documents reflecting specific details of the transactions, as a material evidence for the moral indictment of the Speaker.
The activist tendered the documents and an audio tape, containing the recorded conversation between him and Ogunewe, before the committee.
Farouk urged the committee members to investigate the matter thoroughly and ascertain the true motives behind the plot, while exposing those involved in it.
`` I strongly believe that they are not fighting any corruption in the House but it is a clear attempt to undermine the leadership of the House for their own selfish reasons,'' he said.
Responding to the allegations in a telephone interview with Newsday, Ogunewe said that he was outside Abuja on an official assignment.
He, however, said that he knew nothing about Farouk's allegations, stressing that he would provide a detailed information on the matter on his return to Abuja by Friday.
Also reacting to Farouk's allegations in a telephone interview with Newsday , Oduwaye said: ``I have never heard of Farouk's name before in my life.
l have never met him, let alone having a meeting with him. ``This is criminal and interesting,'' Oduwaye said.
Earlier, Rep Saleh Minjibir, Chairman of the Ethics and Privileges Committee, gave the assurance that the committee would do a thorough job and get to the root of the matter.
He, however, said the committee would not hesitate to re-invite Farouk to come and defend his allegations, if the need arose.
The committee also met with representatives of Zenith Bank, who claimed that the National Assembly had no account with it apart from the two accounts of NASS clinic and the Policy Analysis Research Project (PARP) of the NASS.
Mr Tunji Olanipekun, Chief Inspector of Zenith Bank, said that he was not aware of any Zenith Bank's cheque lodged with the bank for the purchase of the controversial cars.