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Tag: Budget padding

  • N90b botched budget padding:  EFCC probes 25 Reps

    N90b botched budget padding:  EFCC probes 25 Reps

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing 25 members of the House of Representatives over alleged N90billion botched budget padding.

    The anti-graft agency has forwarded the names of the affected lawmakers to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) so as to retrieve their assets declaration forms.

    This brings to 41, the number of suspects under EFCC’s  investigation for budget padding.

    The commission had interrogated 16 directors of finance and account of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs).

    The suspended  former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin had sent a petition to the EFCC on the alleged padding of the 2016 budget by Speaker Yakubu Dogara and some principal officers.

    The others are Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun; Chief Whip Ado-Doguwa, Minority Leader Leo Ogor and some chairmen of committees.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that after preliminary investigation, the EFCC has isolated 25 members of the House of Representatives for questioning.

    In preparation for the grilling, the EFCC wrote the Code of Conduct Bureau on the assets declared by the lawmakers.

    A source in the CCB said: “We have received a request for the asset dossiers of 25 members of the House  who are being investigated in connection with budget padding.

    “Our department in charge of assets declaration is working on the information needed. But we will not release the list of the 25 members of the House until the assignment is completed.

    “The only challenge we have is the fact that the EFCC’s demand has put pressure on CCB because of the leakage of the information to some members of the House.”

    It was however learnt that the CCB has shifted its ongoing verification of the assets of the 25 Representatives to a secret location in Abuja to stave off pressure.

    “Some House members have infiltrated the CCB and this is hindering our work. But we will try our best to collaborate with EFCC.”

    Jibrin had alleged injection of about N90billion personal projects into the 2016 budget by some principal officers.

    He also alleged that the Speaker and the affected principal officers met to demand the N40billion worth of projects in addition to about N20billion wasteful projects which they allocated to their constituencies.

    He accused the Speaker of seeking N30billion personal requests with three other officers.

    An EFCC source said: “On the 2016 Budget in particular, preliminary investigation has established that some principal officers and committee chairmen inserted personal projects into the budget apart from the official projections by the Executive.”

    It was learnt that the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) , which had an audience with Jibrin, recommended a thorough probe of  his petition.

    A Special Investigative Panel (SIP) of the Police, headed by AIG Amodu Ali is also looking into Jibrin’s allegations.

    The SIP has sent a  letter to the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Mr. Mohammed Sani Omolori to make the 2016 Budget approved by the lawmakers available to it.

    Also, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has filed an application at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking an order of mandamus to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the allegations of padding levelled against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and three others.

  • Budget padding: Dogara, others will still go to jail, says Jibrin

    Budget padding: Dogara, others will still go to jail, says Jibrin

    The sacked Chairman, House of Representatives Committee of Appropriation, Abdulmumini Jibrin is convinced that  Speaker Yakubu Dogara cannot escape forever going to jail for alleged budget padding.

    Jibrin who is currently on suspension from the House for alleging that Dogara and other Principal Officers of the House were involved in massive padding of the 2016 budget said in an interview in Abuja that at some point Dogara and his alleged collaborators “will be arrested and prosecuted” by the law enforcement agencies.

    “I have no element of doubt that, at the end of this, Speaker Dogara will go to jail,” he emphasized at the interview to mark 100 days of his going public with the allegation.

    Asked what has happened to all the petitions he submitted to the anti- graft agencies on the allegations, Jibrin said: “contrary to the thinking of some Nigerians, they have been carrying out their investigations.

    “You might be surprised to know that like the DSS, how long they have been following up with judges before they eventually burst into their homes.

    “So, I believe that we will get to that point. I am optimistic that we will get to a point where there will be a strike. They are doing their work; they have invited me severally, I have gone there and presented my case.

    “They’ve interacted with me countless times and I know that investigations are on at the various stages. There have been massive discoveries. All the teams at the EFCC, ICPC and the AIG in charge of the investigations at the Police.

    “I know they are doing their work and I have had a lot of assurances that we will get to the point where every Nigerian wants to see – where of course, Speaker Dogara and the remaining crooks in the House of Representatives will be arrested and prosecuted. I have no element of doubt that, at the end of this, Speaker Dogara will go to jail.”

    He described his suspension for six months as reckless.

    “I never thought that some members of the house would choose to act in a very reckless manner. I have never seen such impunity in my life because while I was dishing out the allegations, I had thought my colleagues would do the right thing which was to insist that the House should investigate the allegations and collaborate with the anti- graft agencies, the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) which had already commenced their investigation into the matter.

    “This was what I anticipated. But to my surprise, when we resumed a motion was raised and it was referred to the Ethics Committee and my first impression was that it was referring the issue in its entirety to the Ethics Committee so that one could go there and discuss the allegations that were raised.

    “But, on reading the order paper and the motion properly, I discovered that the only item they were taking there is that I breached the privileges of the House and the members. That was why I declined participation because it made no sense to me.”

    He also likened his treatment by the house to someone shouting in the market square thief, thief, thief.

    “Rather than the people following the track where the thief was running towards, they went and apprehended the person who raised the alarm and started beating him up. I find that very ridiculous and extremely rare. Obviously, the aim was to silence the man who blew the whistle.  Personally, I have never seen where that has happened anywhere else in the world.”

    Jibrin does also not believe that the house has learnt any lesson from his expose on its handling of this year’s budget.

    He said: “With what I have seen happening, the whole process of forming a small group, inviting the Minister of Budget and Minister of Finance has started and that is where the whole problem on the process of appropriation starts.

    “You form a small team, you agree on certain fundamentals, then you come back and try to impose it on the Chairman of Appropriations or Chairman of Finance. When he declines, he becomes an enemy and you start blackmailing him.

    “I have heard that the Minister of Fiancé has been invited to brief one leadership; Minister of Budget and National Planning has been invited to brief another leadership. That is where the whole budget fraud and padding issue is negotiated. When they go there, there is nothing that is being discussed apart from personal interests.

    “Oh, I have this contractor, I want you to pay him his money. Oh, put my project in the budget. They go there and commit the House at such meetings and when they commit the House, they come back, they try to impose it on the Chairman of Appropriations who has to now take the whole load on his head   and his colleagues are not aware that this is what is going on.

    “With what I have seen so far, I don’t think that the National Assembly has learnt its lessons.  That is the pattern that Dogara has adopted.”

  • Budget padding: Jibrin challenges suspension in fresh suit

    Budget padding: Jibrin challenges suspension in fresh suit

    Former Chairman, Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin has challenged his suspension from participating in the House’s activities for 180 days.

    The legislator, who was recently suspended following his disagreement with the House’s leadership over alleged fraudulent conduct, including padding of the last national budget, is seeking N1billion damages against the defendants in a fresh suit he filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Jibrin, in the suit with House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, Clerk and others as defendants, wants the court to declare among others, that his suspension amounted to a violation of his fundamental human right to freedom of expression.

    He equally wants a declaration that the resolution passed by the House, suspending him, was in breach of the provisions of Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Jibrin wants an order of injunction restraining the House from preventing him from participating in its activities, including those of its Committees, or accessing the legislative chambers to perform his legislative duties.

    He seeks an order for the award of N1 billion against the defendants as punitive and general damages for his unlawful suspension.

    Justice John Tsosho, to who the case is assigned, has fixed hearing for November 22.

    Meanwhile, Jibrin withdrew yesterday, an earlier suit he filed before before his suspension.

    He had sought to restrain the House of Reps and its leadership from giving effect to the threat to suspend him.

    Yesterday, Jibrin’s lawyer, Chukwuma Nwachukwu applied to withdraw the earlier case on the ground that it has been overtaken by event.

    Although defendants’ lawyer, Kalu Onuoha demanded for cost from the plaintiff, Justice Tsoho struck out the suit, but declined Onuoha’s request for cost.

  • Budget padding: Jibrin challenges suspension in fresh suit

    Budget padding: Jibrin challenges suspension in fresh suit

    …Seeks N1bn compensation

    Former Chairman, Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin has challenged his suspension from participating in the House’s activities for 180 days.

    The legislator, who was recently suspended following his disagreement with the House’s leadership over alleged fraudulent conduct, including padding of the last national budget, is seeking N1billion damages against the defendants in a fresh suit he filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Jibrin, in the suit with House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, Clerk and others as defendants, wants the court to declare among others, that his suspension amounted to a violation of his fundamental human right to freedom of expression.

    He equally wants a declaration that the resolution passed by the House, suspending him, was in breach of the provisions of Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Jibrin wants an order of injunction restraining the House from preventing him from participating in its activities, including those of its Committees, or accessing the legislative chambers to perform his legislative duties.

    He seeks an order for the award of N1 billion against the defendants as punitive and general damages for his unlawful suspension.

    Justice John Tsosho, to who the case is assigned, has fixed hearing for November 22.

    Meanwhile, Jibrin withdrew yesterday, an earlier suit he filed before before his suspension.

    He had sought to restrain the House of Reps and its leadership from giving effect to the threat to suspend him.

    Friday, Jibrin’s lawyer, Chukwuma Nwachukwu applied to withdraw the earlier case on the ground that it has been overtaken by event.

    Although defendants’ lawyer, Kalu Onuoha demanded for cost from the plaintiff, Justice Tsoho struck out the suit, but declined Onuoha’s request for cost.

  • Budget padding: EFCC quizzes top officials of 16 ministries

    Budget padding: EFCC quizzes top officials of 16 ministries

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has interrogated directors of finance and account of 16 federal ministries.

    The anti-graft agency has also retrieved the ministries’ original copies of their budget proposals from 2012 to 2016 and as well as the versions approved by the National Assembly.

    The EFCC has uncovered many projects inserted in the budget in the last four years and probing whether they were executed.

    The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the EFCC have started collaborating to unravel the identities of the companies executing padded projects.

    The commission was said to be in the process of inviting the affected contractors.

    It was also learnt that the commission had already questioned a former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, who blew the whistle, and those who wrote petition against Jibrin on budget padding.

    About 184 civil servants were indicted in the padding of the 2016 budget.

    The extension of the scope of the budget padding to four years might lead to the arrest of more top civil servants.

    According to a top source, the investigation into budget padding by EFCC “appeared to have gathered momentum.”

    The source said: “The EFCC has questioned directors of finance and account of 16 Federal Ministries in connection with the matter. The top officials were invited and questioned after the Commission had received and analyzed original proposals from the ministries and the appropriation from the National Assembly between 2012 and 2016.

     ”There are allegations and counter allegations and the Commission is looking at all of them.”

  • Budget padding: Suspended Jibrin’s office sealed

    Budget padding: Suspended Jibrin’s office sealed

    SUSPENDED former House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Chairman Abdulmumin Jibrin’s. National Assembly  office has been sealed.

    The Suite 1. 05 first floor office in the Representatives New Building was sealed at noon yesterday and it may remain so for the next one year.

    Undeterred by the development, Jibrin urged his colleagues to refund the N10 million running cost allowance given to each member.

    In a letter dated September 29, 2016 titled: “Burden of proof of evidence: Running cost of honourable members of the House of Representatives”, the lawmaker said: “I wish to draw your attention to the fact that since you suspended me yesterday and the suggestion of the Ethics Committee report that my allegations were generalised and without proof, I have come under intense public scrutiny and pressure to prove that there exists systemic corruption in the House.

    “You should return the money within one week to the Clerk of the National Assembly. And for the purpose of clarity. I am referring to about N10 million you collect from tax payers monthly.

    “The Clerk will provide you with official accounts details, failure of which I will take necessary action to ensure that you return any money stolen and stand witness against you in case of prosecution.

    “I have written to the Clerk of the National Assembly to stand by in anticipation. In the face of the revenue challenges and biting hardship the country is currently facing, there is no better time the country needs such money than now.

    Jibrin was on Wednesday suspended for 180 legislative days for breach of the privileges of House of Representatives members and misconduct.

    His journey to suspension began when his case of misconduct and breach of privileges was referred on Wednesday to the Nicholas Ossai – headed House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for investigative hearing.

    The head of the National Assembly Sergeants- at-Arm Mr. Ndako with other security operatives were in the office of the embattled lawmaker from 2.00 pm for over a hour to take inventory of equipment and other items in the lawmaker’s office before it was permanently locked and sealed with a red and white tape.

    Jibrin had alleged that Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun, Whip Alhassan Doguwa, Minority Leader Leo Ogor and nine committee chairmen illegally inserted fictitious projects into the 2016  Budget.

  • Budget padding: Jibrin suspended for 180 legislative days

    Budget padding: Jibrin suspended for 180 legislative days

    The House of Representatives has suspended former Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano), for 180 legislative days.

    These are the minimum days a member attends plenary in a legislative year, as prescribed by Section 63 of the House rules.

    Jibrin would also not be recommended for any position till end of the Eighth Assembly, and will be required to tender a public apology to his colleagues on resumption from suspension.

    But the suspended lawmaker asked the nine principal officers to disclose the amount they received as running cost since their election into the National Assembly, or be forced to.

    The House probed the lawmaker’s accusation against the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun; Chief Whip Alhassan Doguwa; Minority leader Leo Ogor; and nine committee chairmen for illegally inserting fictitious projects into the 2016 budget.

    The suspension followed adoption of the recommendations of the Nicholas Ossai-led Ethics and Privileges Committee, which investigated Jibrin for alleged breach of privileges of his colleagues, and bringing the House into disrepute with his accusations.

    The recommendations were adopted at the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Lasun.

    The report said: “Consequent upon the foregoing paragraphs, the committee recommends as follows:

    “To reprimand Jibrin, in accordance with Chapter 9 (1) of the Code of Conduct for Members of the House of Representatives.

    “That as provided in Order Six, Rule 1 (4) of the Standing Orders, and Chapter 9 (2)of the Code of Conduct for Members of the House, the House by this resolution further regulates its procedure and accordingly suspends Jibrin for 180 Legislative sitting days in the first instance.

    “That further to paragraph 5.02 above, Jibrin is required to tender a formal written apology to the House, prior to his future resumption of duties in the House.

    “That in accordance with Chapter 9 (3) of the Code of Conduct for Members of the House, Jibrin should be barred from positions of responsibility in the House until the end of the Eighth Assembly.”

    Presenting the report at the Committee of the Whole, Ethics and Privileges Committee Chairman Ossai said, in reaction to Jibrin’s accusation of the committee as bias, he (Ossai) offered to step down for his deputy to take over the probe.

    Jibrin earlier said the probe was in contempt of the court, since the matter was a subject of litigation.

    Ossai said Jibrin’s refusal to honour the committee’s invitation amounted to his defence.

    Two witnesses appeared before the panel on two sittings: Oker-Jev and Channels Television.

    “Jibrin was given every opportunity to attend the committee’s hearing, but failed to do so.

    “The committee is, therefore, satisfied that it has complied with Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as it relates to fair hearing,” the report said.

    Ossai said the report and its recommendations emanated from evidence before the committee.

    Before the Committee of the Whole reverted to plenary, Dogara and Majority leader Femi Gbajabiamila returned to the chamber.

    Gbajabiamila, who came back to the chamber just when the House reverted to plenary, moved the adoption of the report, and it was adopted with a huge Aye! when it was put to voice vote by Lasun.

    But Jibrin, who was not on the floor, gave Dogara and other nine principal officers 72 hours to respond to his allegations on running cost.

    In a letter, titled: Details and Management of Running Cost and Other Allowances of Principal Officers of the House, Jibrin said he was not deterred by the suspension because he was ready to fight corruption in the House, even if alone.

    The letter reads: “You will recall that I have embarked on an anti-corruption crusade to expose systemic and individual corruption in the House of Representatives and push for reforms that will wipe out corruption and ensure that the House conducts its affairs and the management of its finances in a transparent and efficient way for the good of our country.

    “In the last few weeks, I have raised several allegations of budget fraud, abuse of office, public trust and corruption against Speaker Dogara, Deputy Speaker Lasun, Chief Whip Doguwa, Minority leader Ogor and a few other members.

    “None of them responded to the allegations; neither has any of them, with the exception of the House leader, honoured the invitation or submitted and cleared his name before the security and anti-graft agencies. I will follow up on this case until justice is served.

    “Similarly, and in the spirit of opening up the affairs of the House for the Nigerian people, I released figures of the amount each of you received as running cost. None of you responded, despite the gravity of the issue. This is an issue that Nigerians, in their millions, are calling on us to open up about. I will take it for granted that you have all denied the allegations.

    “It is in view of the above and enforcing that I demand each of you to provide me and make public within 72 hours what you have received in monetary terms as running cost of your offices in your entire stay in the House of Representatives and details of how you spent it, failure of which I will take necessary legal action to compel you to do so.”

    Jibrin copied the federal attorney-general, inspector-general of Police (IGP), security and anti-corruption agencies as well as heads of civil service in the National Assembly.

  • Budget padding: Jibrin shuns Reps panel

    Budget padding: Jibrin shuns Reps panel

    The  former Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation has shunned  the Nicholas Ossai-led House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

    The House sent Jibrin’s case to the committee for investigation after a motion by Committee Chairman    Rules and Business Emmanuel Orker-Jev.

    Orker-Jev accused Jibrin of infractions against the House n and members, saying he brought the Green Chamber into disrepute by his allegations, which Jev claimed were fabricated.

    Jibrin expressed his distrust for the committee, saying its chairman and other members, especially Herman Hembe, were interested parties. Hembe exempted himself, and only attended as an observer.

    Ossai said he received a letter from Jibrin, which gave conditions for his appearance.

    His words: “He ( Jibrin) said: ‘I will appear under the condition that the proceedings will be public, with access given to print and electronic media, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Bar Association, Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Association of Nigerian Students and the public.’

    “You can see from day one that this committee has been public. As of last week, we made the committee open to media houses, human rights organisations and others.”

    According to him, Jibrin was served the notice of the session on September 22, and it was acknowledged.

    “We take it that it was duly served,” he said.

    The committee adjourned for 30 minutes to see if Jibrin will change his mind and appear before it.

    On resumption, Ossai said Jibrin was given sufficient time to appear and make his case.

    He said the committee’s Clerk, Yankuzo Bawale, told him that whenever he called Jibrin, he did not pick, and failed to respond to text messages.

    Bawale said he went to Jibrin’s office, and found it  locked.

    But there was drama yesterday as the committee grilled the management of Channels Television about an interview Jibrin granted it.

    “We invited Channels Television and AIT management because of the exhibits tendered, Channels is not on trial. During last week’s session, a member submitted this (CD), and we need to know if Jibrin was on a prograamme on your station,” Osaai said.

    A senior manager with Channels, Yemi Ipaye, and a senior reporter, Lanre Lasisi, were put on oath  to ascertain the truth.

    Ipaiye agreed after watching the footage tendered by Orker-Jev that Channels had a programme called Sunday Politics, and that the programme, anchored by a Seun Okinbaloye, featured Jibrin

    The management of African Independent Television (AIT) was absent at the hearing.

    The hearing was adjourned sine die while awaiting the appearance of Jibrin but the chairman said the report of the investigation would be presented to the House within one week.

  • Budget padding: How the hunter became the hunted

    Budget padding: How the hunter became the hunted

    Following the intrigues that trailed removal of the former Chairman of Appropriation Committee in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, before the House went on the long recess, Nigerians eagerly waited for this week’s resumption, fearing, among others, that allegations on the padding of 2016 Budget will not only take the centre stage but may lead to a change of leadership or something more dramatic. Dele Anofi in Abuja captures the early scenes in the long drama and reports on how the hunter became the hunted

    WHEN the Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in a chat with The Nation on Tuesday, 20th September said whatever happens, concerning Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) on the floor of the House the following day will follow due process; watchers knew that something was in the offing. It was feared that the hunter was set to become the hunted. On Wednesday, Jibrin was eventually referred to the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges for investigation.

    Jibrin, sequel to his removal as the Appropriation Chairman, had unleashed a flurry of allegations of padding the 2016 Budget by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun, Whip Alhassan Doguwa, Minority Leader Leo Ogor and nine committee chairmen. It was all well and good; he was gaining popularity before his colleagues, the Presidency and Nigerians as an anti-corruption czar that was determined to sanitize the House until he took on his colleagues and the members of the upper chamber, the Senate over personal running cost.

    Telling Nigerians that the official running cost of members was diverted to uses other than what it was meant for, amounts to a war on his colleagues. This is an allowance that was not known to Nigerians prior to Jibrin’s expose. “He ruffled a lot of feathers with that punch; he has taken something fundamental away from them by that singular expose because the electorates are now aware of it. Now the lawmakers must start to do what the running cost is meant for, which would make a dent on their spending powers, else, the constituents will start to ask questions or demand for their own share. The Presidency that has always been very suspicious of the legislators is also now aware how the votes are being spent. It was no surprise that those that were hitherto sympathetic to his cause abandoned him when it mattered most, on the day he was referred to be investigated, says Pharmacist Niyi Aremu, a political analyst.” What Jibrin said on the budget padding was the ideal thing in an ideal society but our own reality has no place for that for now. We are just getting set to tow that path with what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing against corruption”.

    Before resumption, when the media war raged on, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got uncomfortable and called the parties to order. The truce did not last long as both parties used other means to present their cases to the public.

    However, contrary to his expectation, Jibrin discovered, rather disappointedly though, that his trips to security and anti-corruption agencies failed to generate the response he expected-that is summary invitation and grilling of those alleged in the padding scandal.

    The day of reckoning had all the trappings of a soap opera as the proceeding on the floor was preceded by protests at the entrance of the National Assembly. The protesters, led by Ikenga Ugochinyere of the National Youth Council (NYC), said Jibrin must be suspended by the House for bringing it into disrepute with his actions and utterances. On the floor, Chairman, Committee on Rules and Business, Emmanuel Orker-Jev began his point of order with a note of caution on how the Nigerian media was eagerly lying-in-wait to feast on fisticuffs that was expected to trail the event of the day. He warned that it was very necessary for his colleagues to conduct themselves maturely while the sitting lasted. On Jibrin, he said his allegations were not only damaging to the names mentioned by the lawmaker, but also to the House of Representatives as an institution.

    Jibrin and his few supporters must have seen the handwriting on the wall going by the declaration of the Northwest zonal caucus at a press briefing on the day of resumption, Tuesday 20th Sept, where 14 members, on behalf  of the caucus denouced Jibrin’s account of what transpired at the zonal caucus meeting a day earlier at Transcorp Hilton Hotel. Jibrin had earlier told the press that Dogara begged that the crisis be handled internally while ‘bribing’ them with acquisition of official cars, redistribution of the controversial constituency projects, among others. The caucus denied all these, saying Jibrin lied. On Wednesday, on the floor, shouts of “Dogara” that rent the air coupled  with adorning of ‘I stand with Dogara’ mufflers by the majority of lawmakers on the floor showed that whatever plans Jibrin had to turn the table against the Speaker was dead on arrival. By the time Orker-Jev concluded his point that was inaudible, the war was practically lost. The Speaker put the vote; a scanty ‘Nay’ was helpless in turning the tide in favour of Jibrin.

    The defeat of Jibrin was so heavy that no one took notice of the Speaker’s silence on why third parties should or should not be involved in ascertaining the veracity of Jibrin’s allegations. Even the Tranparency Group that gave him a faint hope of a possibility of forcing the Speaker to step down for an unhindered investigation  suddenly went listless. No one was willing to stick out his/her neck for the emergency anti-corruption czar.

    Though he promised to fight on, even if alone; Jibrin vowed not to appear before the Ethics Committee unless the proceedings were made public. Perhaps, making it public would give him the opportunity to ask Dogara the questions he said he had been dying to ask but met with repeated failure. Jibrin was particularly eager to get Dogara’s response to whether he (Dogara) attempted to force him to divert projects to the Speaker’s farm, among others.

    With the outcome of the day’s sitting, Aremu was of the opinion that “What Jibrin failed to take seriously is the fact that fighting an institution alone is almost impossible in this part of the world. This is because rightly or wrongly, some powerful individuals must have been created by the institution through the years and if those privileged individuals are not forthright, it becomes easy to manipulate such institutions for selfish reasons. For selfish reasons, these individuals will lay foundation for traditions and conventions of that institution. If Jibrin had taken this into account, he ought to realise that first, it is difficult to fight an incumbent successfully because naturally, such incumbent must have empowered some people that would be ready to reciprocate such goodwill. Secondly, how do you hope to defeat an entire institution after you have taken on the individuals that made up that institution?

     I am not saying such exposure is not good, as a matter of fact, that is what our country needs at this time of economic recession and national re-orientation so that we remove all these avoidable drains to our commonwealth. But then, our reality is that corruption is too deep-rooted in our system, in all facets of our national life for a single individual to topple it in a hurry. It must be gradual but sustained. I won’t be surprised that what President Muhammadu Buhari is doing on corruption and national re-orientation comes to naught immediately he leaves that office if a like-mind does not succeed him. That is the enormity of what Jibrin has taken on himself and surprisingly, he appears to be unaware of”.

    What is eagerly awaited by Nigerians is whether the Nicholas Ossai-led Ethics Committee would take on Jibrin’s challenge and make its proceedings public; witnessed by civil society organisations and other pressure groups. This is because Jibrin had said that the grand plan is to dilute the ongoing external investigation by the police and EFCC and use the Ethics Committee for a soft landing. “This is the only way that I can have the comfort and confidence that the proceedings, the investigations and the outcome will not be manipulated or compromised. I am ready to appear before the committee even today if the proceedings will be public,” he said in a press statement in reaction to the event of his being referred to be investigated.

    However, if what a member of the House, who pleaded anonymity is anything to go by, Jibrin might well be fighting another lost battle. He said, “Who is he to dictate to the Committee how it conducts its business? He will have to conform with the ethics of the Committee. If he makes good his threat and fails to appear before the Committee because it wasn’t public, then whatever the outcome he would have no one to blame”. The source may be echoing the thoughts of Golu Timothy (PDP, Plateau), who said Jibrin must apologise to his colleagues and Nigerians or risk being suspended.

    Whether the hunter would end up being the hunted would be apparent in a matter of days.

  • Budget padding: Police push ahead despite House Ethics Committee’s probe

    Budget padding: Police push ahead despite House Ethics Committee’s probe

    •Worried by Clerk’s failure to tender Appropriation Bill from Buhari

    The Police are pressing ahead with their investigation of the alleged padding of the 2016 Budget in the House of Representatives irrespective of the ongoing probe of the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

    The Police probe is being handled by its Special Investigative Panel following a petition by Jibrin.

    But the investigators are worried by the failure of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori to submit copies of the 2016 Appropriation bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari and the actual budget passed into law by the legislature.

    The Nation gathered authoritatively yesterday that the police were weighing their options on what to do with Sani-Omolori.

    The House Ethics and Privileges Committee at its maiden sitting on Friday slammed a four-count charge against Jibrin whose lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) branded the probe a violation of the provisions of Order 9, Rule 5 of the Standing Rules of the House.

    Investigation by this newspaper revealed that the AIG Amodu Ali-led panel came under massive pressure from some vested interests to wait until the conclusion of the probe by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges

    The SIP however decided to go on with its investigation after coming to the conclusion that the Executive and the Legislature are separate arms of government.

    A source conversant with the development said: “The panel is going ahead with the investigation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor; and the Chief Whip, Hassan Ado Doguwa. We are not bound by the development in the House.

    “The probe being conducted by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges has nothing to do with that of the police.  And if you look at what the House is doing, it is a separate issue with what the SIP is handling. As a matter of fact, the petition before the police preceded the decision of the House on Jibrin.

    “The SIP will conduct investigation into the petition before it. There is an argument that the police panel should await the outcome of the House Committee but there is also a legal dimension that the Legislature and the Executive are separate arms of government.

    “There was a similar experience in the Senate and it did not stop the trial of some principal officers.”

    Sources also said that the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori was yet to submit the copies of the 2016 Appropriation bill presented by President Buhari and the actual 2016 budget passed into law.

    “I think the panel is weighing its options on what to do with the CNA. A reminder letter was sent to him but he has not replied any at all,” the source said.

    “Some of the options include inviting him or effecting his arrest. It is also a violation of the nation’s law to indulge in acts capable of obstructing investigation.

    “The SIP will give him the benefit of doubt before taking further action on this snub. The National Assembly may have its internal process on this issue which the police consider too slow or an affront on the law.”

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has filed an application at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking an order to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the allegations of padding against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and three others.

    The others are the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor; and the Chief Whip, Hassan Ado Doguwa.

    The suit, dated September 15 was filed by Falana and Falana Chambers.

    The organisation sought the following reliefs:

    “An order of this Honorable Court compelling the Respondent to investigate allegations of budget padding and abuse of office leveled against the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Yakubu Dogara as well as the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor; and the Chief Whip, Hassan Ado Doguwa.

    “A declaration that the failure of the Respondent to investigate allegations of budget padding and abuse of office leveled against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara as well as the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor; and the Chief Whip, Hassan Ado is illegal and unconstitutional as it violates Section 6 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004.

    “An order of Mandamus compelling the Respondent to investigate allegations of budget padding and abuse of office leveled against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara as well as the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor; and the Chief Whip, Hassan

    “And for such order or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the    circumstance.”