Budget Padding: Jibrin writes EFCC, wants Speaker Dogara, others arrested

The whistle blowing lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin, says he has written a petition to Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies to investigate his allegations against the House leadership.
Mr. Jibrin, in a series of posts on his Twitter handle, said he had been granted extra security because he had become a “key witness” in the investigation and potential trial of the accused lawmakers.
The former chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriation Committee said his offices were also protected by officials to secure documents relating to the case.
“On the request of my lawyers, the security agencies have promptly protected the appropriation secretariat, my office and provided maximum protection to Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin as the key witness during prosecution in the matter,” Mr. Jibrin wrote in third person.
The lawmaker from Kano State said a petition he wrote to authorities against Mr. Dogara, his deputy Yusuf Lasun, House Whip Alhassan Doguwa, Minority Leader Leo Ogor, and others was dispatched yesterday.
“The case against them ranges from corrupt enrichment, abuse of office and public trust, living above means, massive movement of funds in budget,” he said.
Other lawmakers reportedly mentioned in the petition include, Herma Hembe, Zakari Mohammed, Chike Okafor, Dan Asuquo, Mohammed Bago, Haliru Jika, Jagaba Adams and Babanle Ila, who all head various committees in the House.
The Speaker and the House have denied any wrongdoing and accused Mr. Jibrin of being bitter because he was removed from his position.
On Saturday, Mr. Jibrin said he had confidence in the fact that appropriate agencies would soon arrest Mr. Dogara and others he mentioned in his allegations, adding that the Speaker should stop blaming extra forces for his woes.
“This is a defining moment in the struggle to cleanse the House, first time a member will drag 12 of his colleagues to the anti-graft agencies,” he said.
“This has opened a rare opportunity for the anti-corruption agencies to decisively use this as a case study to send a powerful signal.
“Speaker Dogara has resorted to blame of so-called external forces, are those forces responsible for moving FG projects to his farm?
“I am confident that the EFCC and ICPC will effect the arrest of Speaker Dogara and the 11 others to commence prosecution in earnest.
“I will share with you the contents of my petition to the EFCC and ICPC in due course and shall return with more shocking revelations.”

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