Invites Jibrin for…
By Time Nigeria
The anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has invited a former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr Abdulmumin Jibrin, to clarify allegations that the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, and three other principal officers who he claimed to have “padded” the 2016 budget to the tune of N40bn.
Mr Jibrin who at the same time alleged that up to 10 committees of the House introduced projects worth about N284bn into the budget.
Jibrin who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress representing Babeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, got suspended by the leadership of the House after its internal investigation alleging him (Jibrin) to have “abused” the rules of the legislative house by making and spreading the padding allegations.
This was disclosed in a letter dated June 9, 2017 by the anti-graft agency stated that it had opened up an investigation into the alleged ‘‘padding’’. The letter stated further that Jibrin’s presence was needed for the lawmaker to clarify the allegations.
According to the letter: “The commission has commenced investigation into the petition of corruption and corrupt practices and abuse of office reported on August 1, 2016 by Hammart & Co (Tafida chambers) on your behalf against Yakubu Dogara, Yusuf Lasun, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Leonard Okuweh Ogor and others.
“In furtherance of the investigation and due to unfolding findings, it has become imperative to request that you attend another interview with the team through Ibrahim Ahmed on June 13, 2017 at the 3rd Floor Block A, No 5 Fomella Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, by 10am to clarify some issues to enable us to conclude investigations.”
The letter was signed by Michael Wekas, Acting Head, Extractive Industry Fraud Section, on behalf of the commission’s Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.
It would be recalled that the House of Reps suspended Jibrin for “181 legislative days” in September last year.
Jibrin received the letter describing the commencement of the investigation as a welcome development, saying that until now, Nigerians were beginning to think that his petition would not be treated.
According to Mr Jibrin, “I have maintained several times that I have full confidence in the EFCC under the chairmanship of Ibrahim Magu.
“I am also aware that the EFCC has been investigating the petition I submitted and far- reaching discoveries were made,” he added.
According to him, part of the discovery was that a principal officer allegedly used his firm to execute constituency projects in breach of extant laws.
Jibrin equally told journalists that the 2017 budget just signed into law by the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo marred with yet to be disclosed flaws which he promised to unveil it soon,.
“In due course, I will expose a lot of other issues in the 2017 budget that will shock Nigerians whether the authorities decide to act on it or not,” he added.
Only last week, the anti-graft Agency blocked over N116m belonging to Ogor, the only Peoples Democratic Party principal officer among the lawmakers accused of corruption by Jibrin. The EFCC also alleged that N318m was paid to two of Ogor’s companies by the Niger Delta Development Commission.
