Reps invite EFCC, ICPC to probe Dogara, Jibrin, others

Following the budget padding allegations leveled against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and three other principal officers, the low chamber has said it will investigate the shocking revelations.

The sacked former Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin of the House had alleged that Dogara and others plotted to insert over N284 billion in the 2016 budget in the name of constituency  projects among others.

The other accused officers are the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yusuff Lasun; the Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and the Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor.

Jibrin, who was sacked last Wednesday, said he was removed as Chairman of the committee because he opposed their several shady financial moves regarding the budget.

With the scandal plunging the House and it members into disrepute, it said the allegations will be referred to the Committee on Ethics/Privileges for investigation by September 13 - when the House would have resumed from the current annual recess.

The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, stated this when briefing news men in Abuja on Tuesday, July 26.

He said Jibrin will get a fair hearing from the committee to defend his allegations against the four principal officers, adding that the leadership of the House has also decided to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies to look into the matter, including allegations that Jibrin himself abused his office between 2011 and 2015 when he was the Chairman, Committee on Finance.

“He was alleged to have aided the use of front companies that collected funds without executing most of the projects," he said.

“The projects have been compiled and will be referred to the anti-graft agencies to establish why the projects were fully paid for and not executed. Who collected the funds and why has Jibrin not raised the alarm about the non-execution of the projects even now?”

Nandas also clarified what led to the removal of Jibrin, saying he displayed acts of “misconduct” and “incompetence” in his handling of the 2016 budget.