A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed two applications filed by former speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Demiji Bankole, seeking to squash the charges against him and stop the trial, insisting that there is sufficient evidence before the court to try the matter.

In his ruling, Justice Donatus Okorowa said the Procurement Act had shown in the extended scope that the National Assembly can be charged to court. He also added that under the criminal code, the accused person is liable.

On the question of whether a prima-facie case has been established against the accused person, Justice Okorowa said enough evidence had been tendered before the court by the prosecution that links the accused to the offences he allegedly committed.

On the disqualification of the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, sought by the accused person, Justice Okorowa ruled that it is on record that the EFCC blanket permission from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation is still subsisting.

The justice also said that the constitution does not question the subjectivity of the prosecutor, but that of the court; he therefore dismissed the application.

Hon. Bankole, who was arraigned by the EFCC on 8 June 2011 on a 16-count charge of contract inflation and fraudulent embezzlement of public funds, had filed two separate motions before the court seeking to squash the charges against him for lack of evidence and another calling for the disqualification of Keyamo.

The matter has been adjourned to 7 February for trial