effc probes rep member over bribery scandal

 Mr Herman Hembe, a member of the House of Representatives, appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday for allegedly asking for N44 million from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Hembe, the immediate past chairman of the House Committee on the Capital Market, was accused of demanding the money by Ms Aruma Oteh, the Director-General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hembe was still with the EFCC as of 3 p.m. on Friday.
An official of the commission, who preferred anonymity because he was not permitted to speak on the matter, confirmed to NAN that the lawmaker and some of members of the House had come to honour the EFCC’s invitation.
“As I speak with you, he (Hembe) is here and being questioned,’’ he said.
He declined further comment.
The source, however, was not able to confirm if Oteh had also honoured the commission’s invitation.
The lawmaker was sighted in front of the commission’s office at about 10 a.m. but went into the premises on sighting photo journalists.
It will be recalled that during House public hearing on the activities of the Stock and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 18, Oteh accused Hembe of demanding N44 million bribe from her.
She also said that Hembe had not returned the estacode he had collected for an abortive SEC-sponsored trip to the Dominican Republic for a conference on emerging markets.
Hembe resigned as chairman of the committee on account of the allegations while the House of Representatives set up a new committee to continue the probe.