Budget Padding – Again, Jibrin Asks Dogara to Step Aside

Again, former Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmunin Jibrin has asked Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara to step aside for investigations to commence over alleged padding of the 2016 Budget.

Jibrin in another statement issued yesterday advised the 4 principal officers he accused of padding the budget to quit their positions for a proper investigation to commence by anti-graft agencies.

In the statement Jibrin said “today marks one month since we commenced the struggle to expose budget fraud and wipe out corruption in the House of Representatives.

“It was a month of startling revelations, 30 days of threats and intimidation and 720 hours of fervent struggle to exterminate corruption in the House.

“Although it is a trite that corruption has eaten deep into the nation’s fabric, but the systemic corruption in the House, especially under the corrupt leadership of Yakubu Dogara, is second to none.

“My resolve to champion this cause was borne out of patriotism and desire to complement the present administration’s anti-corruption war from the legislative front.

“We have remained resolute and steadfast despite the blackmail, propaganda and campaign of calumny sponsored by the corrupt Speaker Dogara and his cabal, while ignoring all the allegations raised against them.

“During this period, they have struggled to settle on one single allegation against me or a single reason for “sacking” me that can stand the test of truth. Every day the reason for “sacking” me continues to change.

“I have stated severally that Speaker Dogara and the other accused Principal Officers have completely lost the moral ground to continue in their various offices. They should, therefore, reconvene the House immediately and step aside to allow for investigation without interference. Speaker Dogara cannot be a judge in his own case, as the legal maxim, nemo judex in parte sua, provides.

“It will be the 10th wonder of the world if Speaker Dogara and the 3 other Principal Officers are allowed to continue in office. It will amount to having a corrupt man and fraudster as Speaker, as no 4 citizen under this dispensation which has zero tolerance for corruption.

“This should go concurrently with wide ranging reforms to restore the glory and honour of the House. Obviously Speaker Dogara lacks the integrity to superintend over such reforms. That is why I keep emphasizing that this whole issue is beyond Speaker Dogara.

“Under Speaker Dogara, corruption in the House has gone nuclear. It is a known fact that legislative investigation is used as avenue to extort money in an organized crime aided and abetted by Mr Speaker.

“This situation has gone so bad that members named such investigations “commercial motions. The fact is corruption has become the biggest business in the House under Speaker Dogara and his cohorts.”

“I dare say corruption in the House of Representatives today is more than that of the Executive and Judiciary combined. We shall go on and continue to expose corruption and corrupt persons in the House. I have said repeatedly that I will continue this struggle even if I am alone. I wish to commend the efforts of other comrades and colleagues, especially members of the Transparency and Integrity Group for their courage in standing for the truth. I am confident that together we shall in the end conquer.”