Reps begin investigation into Jibrin’s budget padding allegations

The House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges yesterday in Abuja commenced public investigation into allegations of fraud made by Abdulmumin Jibrin against the House.

This followed Wednesday’s resolution of the House, which mandated the committee to investigate the allegations bordering on breach of privileges of members.

Jibrin, the former Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, had accused the leadership of the House, including Speaker Yakubu Dogara Assembly of padding the 2016 budget and urged anti-graft agencies to investigate.

Testifying before the Ethics and Privileges Committee, however, Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Emmanuel Orker-Jev, described Jibrin’s action as sundry act of misconduct against the House.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Orker-Jev, who tendered newspaper copies and video materials as evidence, prayed the committee to apply necessary sanctions against any member guilty of misconduct in accordance with the House rules.

He said the allegations made by Jibrin were false, scandalous and had impinged on the image of the National Assembly and lowered it in the estimation of the public, as Nigerians now express disgust at the lawmakers.

“There are internal mechanisms of addressing such grievances. We need to redeem our image against allegations that oversight and public hearings conducted in the House of Representatives are riddled with corruption,” Orker-Jev said.

While adopting Orker-Jev’s evidences, the Committee expressed commitment to be fair and objective in the investigation.It adjourned sitting on the matter to September 26, when Jibrin is scheduled to appear before it.