Rep Jibrin takes campaign against Dogara to four anti-corruption agencies, says Speaker must fall

A former Chairman of the
appropriations committee of the House
of Representatives, Abdulmumin
Jibrin, on Monday announced that he
would be visiting Nigeria’s major anti-
corruption agencies today to shed light
on his allegation of budget padding
against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and
other principal officers of the lower
chamber.
He said he would fully cooperate with
investigators to understand the depth
of budget fraud and abuse of office by
Mr. Dogara and other lawmakers.
Mr. Jibrin made the announcement via
his Twitter handle on Monday, hours
after he appeared on Channels
Television political programme, Politics
Today, alleging widespread
institutional corruption in the
legislature.
“My lawyers have confirmed my
appointments for today with security
and anti corruption agencies to
personally provide insight on my
petition,” Mr. Jibrin said in a series of
tweets.
“We will be at the ICPC 10am, DSS
12noon, EFCC 2pm and Police HQ 4pm.
The law will surely catch up with the
corrupt Speaker Dogara and others.”
The lawmaker’s shuttle visits to anti-
corruption agencies is his latest effort
at ensuring Mr. Dogara; his deputy,
Yusuf Lasun; Chief Whip, Alhassan
Doguwa; Minority Leader, Leo Ogor;
and some other lawmakers are
investigated and prosecuted for alleged
graft.
Mr. Jibrin, who described himself as an
accidental anti-corruption activist,
began fighting the leadership of the
House on July 21, after he was
removed from his post by Mr. Dogara
who accused him of betrayal of trust.
Apart from Mr. Dogara and three other
House principal officers, Mr. Jibrin
also accused 10 heads of committees of
inserting 2000 projects worth N284
billion in the 2016 budget.
Giving a highlight of his petition, he said his case
against Mr. Dogara and his colleagues included
“corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and public
trust, living above means, massive movement of
funds in the budget.”
After he spoke on Channels Television last night,
Abonta Abonta, a member of the House, belonging to
the PDP, came on air to dismiss his claims.
On Monday morning, Mr. Jibrin descended on Mr.
Abonta, calling on the authorities to probe the funds
allocated to the committee on public relations
chaired by the PDP lawmaker.
“I added one new name to my petition, Hon Abonta
Abonta,” he said. “The member who spoke after me
on Channels and denied corruption exists in the
House.
“Let me use Hon Abonta as a case. I have asked the
anti-graft agencies to investigate his office running
cost. Wait for the shocking outcome.”
Mr. Jibrin’s attack on Mr. Abonta might discourage
other lawmakers from coming out in defence of Mr.
Dogara and his colleagues.
After nine members of the appropriations committee
addressed a press conference defending Mr. Dogara
last week, Mr. Jibrin hit the committee’s vice
chairman who led the briefing.
He alleged that Chris Azubogu abused his position
by demanding that the 2016 budget be padded with
111 projects.
He also said nine other members who participated in
the briefing received $20,000 each from Mr. Dogara,
through his chief of staff, to address the press
conference.
Civil society organisations have called on Mr. Dogara
to step aside to enable an unfettered investigation of
the allegations.
A group of lawmakers in the House, the
Transparency Group, is also calling for a thorough
investigation of Mr. Jibrin’s allegations.
Mr. Dogara’s spokesperson, Turaki Hassan, has in
the past days repeatedly declined to comment for
stories concerning Mr. Jibrin’s allegations against
his boss.

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