Former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, on Friday alleged that the sealing up of his office was a move by the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara to destroy evidence relating to the budget padding allegations.
Jibrin had accused the Dogara and other principal officers of the Lower Legislative Chamber of padding the 2016 budget to the tune of over N40bn,.
The lawmaker from Kano had made the allegation while the House was on recess.
Upon resumption, the House had referred the allegation to the Ethics and Privileges committee for further investigation; however, he refused to appear before the committee, consequently he was suspended and his office sealed.
Reacting to the action of the House, the lawmaker in a statement wondered why he was prevented from removing his personal belongings before his office was sealed on Thursday.
According to Jibrin, “You may all be aware, the sergeant-at-arms of the national assembly stormed and sealed my office on the instruction of speaker Dogara yesterday. The office was purportedly sealed as a consequence of my illegal suspension but the truth was to enable the speaker lay hands and destroy evidence.
“The media witnessed the volumes of 2016 budget documents and 53 files that were carted away from my office and handed to Speaker Dogara.
“I have exercise extreme caution and refused to touch any document in my office since the crisis started. I have raised the alarm that Dogara wants to destroy evidence but the good news is that we have more than enough already in case of prosecution.
“The whole country watched for 2 months as Speaker Dogara was accorded all the time he needed to lobby around, clear his desk and now destroy evidence. Nigerians must all rise up and demand that Speaker Yakubu Dogara produce all the 2016 budget documents and 53 files carted away from my office.
“I was not even allowed to take away my personal belongings. Hon Jibrin must be dealt with and disgraced by all means. Speaker Dogara is playing God. I have become vulnerable in the face of frequent threats to my life and some of the security personnel attached to me were suddenly withdrawn.
“Here we are talking about the fight against corruption. Today, I am being humiliated and my crime is simply exposing corruption in high places. Who will want to take such risk in future? I have said repeatedly that this episode is a defining moment for the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
“I wish to plead to the general public that we should concentrate on the grievous allegations I have raised rather than unfairly attacking me the messenger. The fact that I am raising corruption allegations does not confer on me any immunity from being investigated if allegations are raised against me.
“I have not stopped any of the 359 members of the house from signing corruption petition against me but none has done so because there is nothing! Only faceless and discredited individuals and groups are used to divert attention by spreading allegations that all turned out false.”
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