Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman of the house of representatives appropriations committee, says he “cries for Nigeria” because of the culture of respecting corrupt people, which is to the detriment of the country.
In a statement on Thursday, Jibrin, who explained how the committee was used for fraud in padding of the 2016 budget, said it was a diversionary plan by Yakubu Dogara, the speaker, to say that the budget s “law and therefore no offence can be committed in that regard”.
Earlier, Dogara had said at a function: “The budget being a law therefore means it is only the parliament that can make it because it is a law.
“If you contend that we cannot tinker with the appropriation bill, even though it is a money bill, it therefore goes without saying that we cannot tinker with any executive bill.”
Advertisement
But in response to that, Jibrin said: “Today, they went a disgraceful step further to threaten that the budget is already a law and therefore no offence can be committed in that regard.
“For instance let’s say an item in a budget proposed by the executive under power for the purchase of a transformer costs N2million and same amount was budgeted.
“If the Chairman House Committee on power, because he has the powers to appropriate, decides to add N3million naira to jack up the allocation to 5million naira when it is a public knowledge that the transformer cannot cost more than 2million naira, what do you call that? That essentially means appropriation fraud.”
Advertisement
He challenged the speaker and the others accused of padding the budget to a public debate on their claim that the “fraudulent” insertions they made in the budget do not constitute an offence that can be prosecuted under the country’s laws.
“Transparency and Integrity Group, Speaker Dogara and his gang of thieves should submit themselves to the anti-corruption agencies and answer thousands of questions waiting for them,” he added.
“I am pretty sure not even the two governors and three former house members backing them can help them evade the anti-corruption agencies.”
He said he had forwarded to the anti-corruption agencies documents showing how Speaker Dogara and others allegedly allocated the N40 billion they stole from N100 billion for constituency projects.
Advertisement
“I cry for Nigeria. So long as we continue to respect corrupt people, so shall our country continue to relapse.”
4 comments
Somebody should tell Jibrin to save his tears, because when he was cooperating with them in committing the crime, his tears dried up like the red sea.
We can not be deceived by his belated u-turn because he lost out in the arrangee legislation. Nigerians are waiting for them in 2019.
Hi Mr Jibrin:
You’re really acting like a kindergarten. Your story would have carried more weight if you spill the beans before you were fired. You were fired and you now run your mouth. The probation value of your allegation is rather low. You are as equally corrupt as the the fellow house members that you are pointing fingers at. You make it sound as if you’re the only decent and morally sound person in the filthy house. Sorry, I don’t agree. I can overlook your excuses. I understand you are still under 40. You’re obviously a cry baby and whoever is advising you is definelry misleading you.
Your comment..OK no wonder dogara his looking for immunity so he can have confidence to be looting our money.by god grace he can never escape this prosecute.
I call upon to mr president to stand at his history of anti corruption giant to confirm that whoever loots nigerian treasury must not go free, padding or not is a corruption. If it is really ant corruption govt.