The
House of Representatives admitted on Wednesday that it would investigate the
budget padding allegations its former Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Mr.
Abdulmumin Jibrin, levelled against the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, and three
other principal officers.
The
three others are the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yussuff Lasun; the Chief Whip, Mr.
Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and the Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor.
Jibrin
had alleged that the four requested the inclusion of N40bn projects in the 2016
budget, besides sundry projects in sums ranging from N20bn to N30bn.
He
claimed that his refusal to oblige the four principal officers and his
opposition to several financial infractions, were responsible for his sacking
by Dogara on Wednesday, last week.
The
House said Jibrin’s allegations would be referred to the Committee on
Ethics/Privileges for investigation after the House would have reconvened on
September 13 from the current annual recess.
The
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas,
told a news conference in Abuja that Jibrin would be accorded fair hearing by
the committee to defend his allegations against the four principal officers.
Namdas
also disclosed the decision of the leadership to invite the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies to look into the
matter, including serial allegations that Jibrin himself abused his office
between 2011-2015 when he was the Chairman, Committee on Finance.
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Politics