The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Medview Airline, Muneer Bankole.
www.tracknews.ng recalls that the anti-graft agency had detained Bankole last Monday at its headquarters in Abuja over a case of alleged diversion of hajj funds.
The Medview Airline boss had arrived at the EFCC headquarters around 11am following an invitation by the commission regarding the case but was subsequently detained.
Bankole is said to have received funds from the National Hajj Commission, and an additional $900,000, for the airlift of pilgrims in 2019, for which he allegedly failed to execute the contract.
But the airline has said that the fund meant for the 2019 Hajj were utilised for necessary preparations including aircraft maintenance and payment to service providers.
The company denied that the airline was not involved in scams or diversion of funds meant for the 2019 Hajj transportation.
Confirming Bankole’s release, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said that the businessman was released on bail this week, adding that investigation into the allegations against him was ongoing.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Rochas Okorocha on Thursday reported the EFCC to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The politician met with the president at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, informed Buhari about his unjust treatment by the anti-graft agency.
Okorocha had declared his intentions to run for the presidency in 2023. Not long after that, the EFCC filed N2.9 billion corruption charge against him.
The EFCC alleged that it was the funds he embezzled while he was the sitting governor of Imo.
