The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday filed an appeal against the ruling of an Abuja High Court that freed the former Speaker of the House of Representative, Dimeji Bankole and his then deputy, Usman Nafada who stood trial for their alleged involvement in the mismanagement of N40 billion National Assembly fund.

On Tuesday, an Abuja High court presided by Justice Suleiman Belgore had ruled that there was no contravention of known financial regulations by the former Speaker and his then deputy to warrant their being put on trial. The Judge said that the duo cannot be vicariously liable, in criminal law, for their action that was taken by the general house of representative.

In a notice of appeal filed by the EFCC’s lawyer, Festus Kayemo, the commission faulted the judgement of Justice Belgore insisting that the Judge erred in law when he ruled that the accused persons had no case to answer in respect of counts 2 to 11 of the 17-count charge which is in relation to criminal breach of trust.

The commission further argued that though the court established that the former speaker was not a signatory to the National Assembly accounts, as long as he was an approving authority to those accounts, he was entrusted with the fund in the account and must be held responsible for any mismanagement of the funds in those accounts.

Mr Keyamo therefore prayed the appeal court to admit his appeal and set aside the ruling of the lower court to the effect that the former speaker has no case to answer.

He also asked the appeal court for an order remitting the case to the lower court for retrial before another Judge.