The Bayelsa State Government as well as the State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has kept sealed lips over the alleged plan by the Police to arrest the Speaker of the Bayelsa State Assembly, Hon. Kombowei Ben and two others over alleged diversion of N78million commonwealth conference fund.
The other two members of the State Assembly Leadership alleged to have been fingered and listed for arrest are the Deputy Speaker, Hon Victor Sam Ateki and the Clerk of the House, Mr Aaron Nicodemus Timiye.
A group, the Transparency and Good Governance Coalition (TGGC), had in a petition forwarded to the? Inspector General of Police called on the Police to investigate the alleged misappropriation of N78 million approved by Governor Seriake Dickson for the House of Assembly to attend the 43rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
According to a source at the State Ministry of Justice, the pending arrest of the three Principal Officers of the Assembly was approved by Minister of Justice and Attorney- General of the Federation, Mr Bello Adoke and arrived at on completion of investigation into allegations of misappropriation by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police.
LEADERSHIP gathered at the weekend that the Special Fraud Unit of the Police, after establishing that the three principal officers were culpable, forwarded a letter with reference number CB3514/X/SFU/ Vol 1 and dated November 7 to the office of Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) requesting for legal advice.
The office of the DPPF after studying the case file forwarded a copy to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice based on the fact that the matter was within the jurisdiction of the office to take action.