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Tag: Budget padding

  • Another national embarrassment

    Another national embarrassment

    By Debo Adeniran

    SIR: The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, calls on the Presidency to come out clean on the allegation of budget padding currently making waves in the country.

    There is something fishy when a sitting senator raises a damning accusation against the senate and the executive concerning how the commonwealth of the generality of the people of the country is being spent and till now we don’t have a concrete statement from both the senate and the executive concerning this allegation.

    We believe the Accountant General of the Federation, AGF should have documentary evidence to either support or reject this allegation or at least come out with verifiable evidence(s) to assure the people that the government is on the right track as far as the national budget is concerned.

     We at CACOL find it difficult to believe that allegation of budget padding could raise its ugly head again at this crucial point of this administration’s tenure. We would like to affirm that the allegation, if true, represents the pinnacle of gross misconduct and an obvious negation of every modicum of the principles of transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility. In fact, it is a shame that despite being tagged as one of the most corrupt in the world, the issue of budget padding is still reeking out from government quarters, that is supposed to champion anti-corruption effort in the country.

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     We would like to inform the representatives of the people currently in government that power is transient and that it very dishonourable to betray the trust of the millions of Nigerian citizens by misappropriating the money they are entrusted to manage on behalf of the people.

    Considering the battered state of the economy today, the worsening devaluation of the naira which has led to reduction in the purchasing power of the people, and the throes of biting hunger that has pervaded the land, it would be wrong for any one in government to add insult to injury being experienced by innocent and hapless Nigerians by mismanaging the revenue of the country and spending it in the most illegal and illegitimate means possible.

    We would therefore use this opportunity to call on the various anti-graft agencies to look in to this allegation as quickly as possible with a view to bring the perpetrators if any, to book.

    • Debo Adeniran, cacolc@yahoo.com

  • Budget padding: Igbo youths commend Tinubu, caution leaders against divisive comments

    The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, has commended the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over his comment on budget padding in the 8th National Assembly.

    The group in a statement signed by the President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, also cautioned Igbo leaders against making divisive comments capable of destabilizing the unity of the country and portraying the Igbo in bad light.

    “We commend the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over his comments on the budget padding in the 8th Assembly.  There’s no need to cry over spilled milk. It should be a lesson for the new leadership that will emerge in the 9th Assembly. Those crucifying Tinubu should be careful. “We also want to caution Igbo leaders to desist from making unguarded comments capable of affecting the unity of Nigeria.

    We know President Buhari’s victory in the just concluded election has retired some Igbo leaders from active politics. It ended some political dynasties in the South East, and threw up fresh opportunities for the youths. That is why those people are making disparaging comments.

    Read also: How Bola Tinubu’s annual Colloquium was born

    We are watching those elders keenly and may have no option than to sanction them if they continue to use the name of Igbo nation to discredit the good works of the president towards the Southeast.

    “We support that Senate President should go to North East and Speakership to South West or North Central. We only demand for the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Deputy Senate President. We have eminent personalities qualified for both Jobs.

    We advise Our people in the House of Representatives to Support the decision of APC leadership. “We commend the South East governors-elect, and hereby urge implore them to make youths to constitute over 50% of their cabinets and also urge them to ensure that the new salary structure is implemented at the state levels.”

  • Budget padding

    •We await the courts as they step into this vexed issue

    The controversy over the powers of the National Assembly with respect to the Appropriation Act appears set to shift to the courts. This is because the President has been ordered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to ensure the prosecution of principal officers indicted in the alleged padding of the 2016 budget, to the tune of N481 billion. The court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris, made the order following a suit by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

    According to a report, SERAP had approached the court claiming that it has “credible information from multiple sources that the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have completed investigations into the allegations of padding of the 2016 budget, completed their reports, and indicted some principal officers of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and that the accounts of some of the principal officers containing allegedly illicit funds have been frozen, and that the case files for the prosecution of those indicted were ready.”

    If the claims are correct, we wonder why the relevant agencies needed to wait for the President or a court order, to exercise their lawful responsibility to prevent the commission of crime, investigate allegations of crime and prosecute those indicted over a crime. Of course, we are aware that the lawmakers have always claimed to be entitled to tinker with the budget as they deem fit, regardless of the estimates presented by the executive.

    Perhaps budget padding is a different kettle of fish, from tinkering with the budget submitted by the executive as we witnessed even with the 2018 budget, now awaiting the President’s signature. We recall that in 2016, the former chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, claimed that after the House had approved in a general session the budget, the principal officers, including him, connived to pad the budget.

    If that was what happened in 2016, then even for a lay man, a prima facie case of corrupt practice may have been established. So, we welcome the opportunity for this national cankerworm to be dealt with once and for all. We note, that since 1999, every year, the Nigerian psyche is assaulted by a budget process that smacks of unbridled brinkmanship. Just recently, the former Minister of Finance under President Goodluck Jonathan, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, alleged that the National Assembly inserted about N17 billion into the 2015 budget, before agreeing to pass same.

    Was that another case of budget padding, or was it the exercise of legislative rights over the appropriation bill? If it is the exercise of a legitimate power, then the nation is in big trouble, in the hands of an unscrupulous legislature. A legislature that has the powers to extort and hold the executive to ransom, before it performs perhaps one of its most important functions, is most dangerous. So, we welcome this opportunity for the court to determine the extent of legislative powers as provided in the constitution, particularly sections 80 & 81 of the constitution, on powers and control over public funds.

    We commend SERAP and urge the President to obey the orders of the court immediately. One of the orders he could obey right away, is to “direct the publication of the report of investigations by security and anti-corruption bodies into the alleged padding of the 2016 budget,” as ordered by the court. That publication should be followed by the prosecution of those involved in the alleged padding.

    We commend Justice Idris for his sagacity in granting SERAP the locus to sue and for the expansive orders directing the President to monitor public expenditure, against corrupt practices.

  • Obaseki sacks Perm Sec over N283m budget padding

    Obaseki sacks Perm Sec over N283m budget padding

    The permanent secretary in the Edo State Ministry of Youth and Special Duties, Dr. (Ms) Osayuware Idahosa yesterday lost her job over alleged  padding of the  budget for the conduct of primary school examination to the tune of N283 million.

    Three other civil servants were sent on suspension for their alleged role in the scam.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki who handed down the punishment also ordered an investigation into the schools’ delisting accounts in the state.

    The decision was arrived at an extraordinary meeting  of the State Executive Committee.

    Dr. Idahosa, who served as Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Education at the time the alleged fraud was committed, was referred to the State Civil Service Commission for appropriate action, in line with the rules and guidelines of the service.

    Others involved in the alleged fraud are: Barr. S. A. Erhunmwunse Edokpayi, Mrs. E.I. Ero-Ugiagbe and Mr. Lucky Adagbonyin.

    The EXCO resolved that they should proceed on indefinite suspension without pay and their case forwarded to the State Civil Service Commission for appropriate actions according to the rules and guidelines of the service.

    Communication and Orientation Commissioner  Paul Ohonbamu told reporters at the end of the meeting that that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, submitted a report on the panel of enquiry on the conduct of the 2016/2017 Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination.

    He said the State Executive Council similarly  set up a committee headed  by Employment and Wealth Creation Commissioner  Emmanuel Usoh  to investigate the removal  of about 350 private schools from the list of eligible schools to participate in the Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination and also the conditions that led to the relisting of these schools shortly after they were delisted.

  • Budget padding: Jibrin, Ogor face EFCC today

    Budget padding: Jibrin, Ogor face EFCC today

    Suspended former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation Abdulmumin Jibrin is to face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today.

    Minority Leader Leo Ogor has also been invited for interrogation on Friday by the EFCC over the budget padding allegation.

    Jibrin is expected to answer questions on the petition he earlier submitted to the commission over allegations of insertion of frivolous projects in the 2016 budget by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun and other principal officers as well as some committee chairmen.

    Jibrin, however, expressed his delight over the invitation, stating that his response would assist the commission in turning up more damming evidences that will aid investigation.

    In a statement yesterday, Jibrin expressed his confidence in the anti-corruption agency, adding that he learnt far-reaching discoveries have been made so far.

    It reads: “It is also noteworthy that this invitation is coming at a time that some revelations were made last week with details of how the Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, used his company where he is the signatory to the accounts to execute constituency projects contracts completely against the laws of our land.

    “It is, however, worrisome that in his response, Ogor admitted the offense and even boosted that there is nothing wrong in what he did…

    “Let me state emphatically clear that any member or senator who used his company or companies with links to him to execute constituency project contracts, whether such contracts are executed or not, has committed an offence.

    “Either way you look at it, he can be prosecuted on charges of corruption or abuse of office. The case of Leo Ogor is same or even worse than that of Babachir Lawal, yet the entire National Assembly has maintained an embarrassing silence. Is my boss, Senate President and Chairman of National Assembly, Senate Bukola Saraki aware of this?

    “In due course, I will expose a lot of other issues in the 2017 budget that will shock Nigerians whether the authority decides to act on it or not.”

    The anti-graft agency has written the Code of Conduct Bureau on some issues in the Asset Declaration Forms of some of the 13 lawmakers in the first batch.

    “We will not release the name of the Representative linked with the BDC until a prima facie case has been established.”

    The source also gave updated on the status of the ongoing probe of the alleged padding of the 2016 Budget.

    The source added: “So far, 50 members of the House have been short-listed for interrogation in connection with 2016 Budget padding.

    “But we will only accommodate 13 representatives in the first batch to avoid any act capable of affecting the activities of the House because we are only looking into allegations.

     

  • Budget padding: EFCC to quiz Jibrin Tuesday

    Budget padding: EFCC to quiz Jibrin Tuesday

    The suspended former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, will appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday to answer questions on alleged padding of the 2016 budget.

    Jubrin had earlier submitted a petition to the EFCC, alleging insertion of frivolous projects in the 2016 budget by Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Yussuff Lasun and other principal officers of the House.

    The ex- appropriation committee chairman, however, expressed his delight at the invitation, saying his response would assist the Commission in its investigation.

    In a statement on Monday, Jibrin expressed confidence in the anti-corruption agency, adding that far reaching discoveries have been made on the matter.

    It reads: “It is also noteworthy that this invitation is coming at a time that some revelations were made last week with details of how the Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor used his company to execute constituency projects completely against the laws of our land.

    “It is however worrisome that in his response, Ogor admitted the offense and even boasted that there is nothing wrong in what he did.

    “Let me state emphatically clear that any member or senator who used his company or companies with links to him to execute constituency projects or contracts, whether such contracts are executed or not has committed an offense.

    “Either way you look at it, he can be prosecuted on charges of corruption or abuse of office. The case of Leo Ogor is same or even worse than that of Babachir Lawal and yet the entire National Assembly has maintained an embarrassing silence on the matter. Is my boss, Senate President and Chairman of National Assembly, Bukola Saraki aware of this?

    “In due course I will expose a lot of other issues in the 2017 budget that will shock Nigerians whether the authority decides to act on it or not.”

     

     

     

     

  • Budget padding: Court to hear Jibril’s case February 20

    A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Wednesday fixed February 20 for hearing in the suit challenging the suspension of a former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumini Jubril.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Clerk of the House of Representatives and Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara are the respondents in the case.

    NAN reports that some constituents in Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency are challenging the legality of Jibril’s suspension.

    The counsel for the plaintiff, Mr. Bashir Muqaddam, had earlier applied for a date to enable him respond to issues raised in the preliminary objection filed by the defence counsel.

    According to him, the defence counsel wanted the consolidation of the two suits – the one filed by the constituency in Kano and the other filed by Jibril in Abuja.

    The defence counsel, Mr. Kalu Onuha, said he had no objection to the application for adjournment.

    The presiding Judge, Justice Sulaiman Akoko, thereafter picked February 20 for hearing in the matter.

     

  • Hon Jibrin’s travails after budget padding scandal

    Former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, is currently eating a generous dose of humble pie served from the kitchens of life. The Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency’s representative in the National Assembly is feeling the heat from the backlash of the allegation of budget padding he levelled against the leadership of the lower house in 2016.

    On the strength of Jibrin’s allegations against the House leadership, some people have even resorted to calling the infamous budget the Jibrin budget. The 40-year-old handsome dude has drawn the ire of many of his colleagues and has become like an Atlas carrying the burden of the budget scandal on his weary back which has almost bent double from the strain. Some people have even removed the “honourable” before his name and replaced it with something else.

    The scholar and CEO of Green Forest Group Ltd is a millionaire who does not shy away from socialising with folks. But he has been feeling lonely lately as some of his fellow lawmakers with possible connection to the scandal have abandoned him to swim or sink alone.

    He is now keeping a low profile as he strategises on how best to emerge from the humbling episode unscathed.

  • Rep: we will kick against budget padding

    Rep: we will kick against budget padding

    The lawmaker representing Atisbo/Saki West and East in the House of Representatives, Mr. Olatunbosun Olajide, has promised that the Eight Assembly will ensure that there is no padding of 2017 budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari.
    Olatubosun, who is a member of the House Appropriation Committee, spoke at Saki township stadium when he organised a multi-million naira empowerment programme.
    He said: “We are elected based on the trust of our people and we will ensure everything we do will be in their interest.
    “Though I am not speaking for the Speaker, but the practice is that each committee will sit down and check what is brought in by Executive. We will make sure that whatever is brought by the Executive is checked thoroughly and nothing unnecessarily will be added.
    “Well, it’s been pretty challenging, especially the issue of padding. Budget is allocation of resources. Last year, it was very turbulent, but we hope that in the 2017 budget, all these issues will be resolved. We are assuring Nigerians that there will be no padding in 2017 budget by the grace of God?
    “We are elected by Nigerians and we are responsible people. At every point in time, we make sure that what we do is in the overall public interest.
    “I agree that we need to improve on our communication, because if you are doing something and only yourself knows, you are groping in the dark. We need to communicate to Nigerians in the language, which they understand.
    “National Assembly members are patriotic Nigerians, we want the best for this country; we want progress for our people. And we will not do anything that will add to their suffering?
    “I believe the Petroleum industry Bill (PIB) Bill will be passed in this Assembly and whatever the Senate does, the House will do concurrence. I’m very optimistic that that there will be a turn-around in the year 2017. Our budget is based on $42 per barrel and $50 in the international market.
    “This recession has been caused by challenges in our revenue in 2016 fiscal year.”
    On the possibility of the All Progressives Congress (APC) retaining power in 2019, he said: “The party just spent 18 months in office and this is a race and I believe we will finish well. Starting is not as important as ending it. I know APC will finish well.
    “The rot we are seeing in Nigeria is a rot from years of the military and the PDP rule.
    “Buhari should be supported, rally round and I’m sure things will turn around for good.”

  • Judge’s absence stalls hearing in Jibrin’s case against NASS

    Judge’s absence stalls hearing in Jibrin’s case against NASS

    The absence of the judge presiding over Abdulmuni Jibril’s case against the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday stalled hearing on the matter at the Federal High Court, Kano.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency had challenged the suspension of Jibrin by the House of Representatives over his involvement in the alleged padding of the 2016 budget.

    Speaking to journalists in court, the lead counsel for Kofa’s constituency, Mr. Bashir Muqaddam, said the Judge, Justice Idris Koko, had travelled out of the state for the judges’ conference, currently holding at the Federal Capital, Abuja.

    He said after returning from the conference, the judges would proceed for the Christmas and New Year vacations.

    According to him, the judges are expected to resume on January 19, 2017 while the case has been fixed for January 18, 2017 for mentioning.

    “We are asking that the sum of N2 billion be given to our client, Hon Abdulmumini Jibrin, as payment for damages to his reputation.

    “When we resume on January 18, 2017, the case will come up for mentioning,’’ Muqaddam said.

    He said the constituency was challenging the legality of Jibrin suspension by the House of Representatives.

    “We want to know whether his whistle blowing role in exposing how the 2016 budget was padded was in contradiction of any stipulated law of the land.

    “Fundamentally, we want an immediate re-instatement of the suspended member and the court to also order for the payment of all his entitlements for the suspension period,” he added.