The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to refer to the EFCC and ICPC for investigation, the allegations that the leadership of the House attempted to pad this year’s budget by N40 billion.
SERAP’s call followed allegations by a former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmunin Jibrin, that Dogara and three other principal officers of the House victimized him for refusing to support calls for immunity for presiding officers as well as the approval of N40 billion for principal officers out of the N100billion approved for members of the House for constituency projects.
In a statement yesterday, SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said: “Given the seriousness and gravity of the allegations against the leadership of the House, any investigation by the House would not be enough, as this would not meet the threshold of an effective, transparent and independent investigation. Nigerians won’t have confidence in the House investigating itself in this case.”
The statement added: “Referring the allegations to both the EFCC and the ICPC for a joint investigation would show that the House leadership is willing and able to enhance the transparency and accountability of its system and that of the National Assembly as a whole.”
