BUDGET PADDING SCANDAL- SERAP URGES DOGARA TO STEP ASIDE FOR DISPASSIONATE INVESTIGATION

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has called on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara to step down from his position and allow the various anti-graft agencies conduct investigations into the alleged padding of the 2016 budget under his leadership.
The former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin had recently accused the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor of attempting to pad N40bn into the 2016 budget.
SERAP had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,to probe the allegation.

Following EFCC’s confirmation that it will look into the allegation, SERAP, in an open letter signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, dated July 29, 2016, called on Dogara to step aside because the case deserves a thorough, transparent, independent and effective investigation by the anti-graft agency.
The letter reads, “Following confirmation received by SERAP from the EFCC that it has taken up and looking into SERAP’s petition to the body on the allegations that the leadership of the House of Representatives padded the 2016 budget to the tune of N481bn, SERAP is now writing to request you to immediately step aside from your position as the Speaker of the House of Representatives pending the outcome of the investigation.
“We also urge you to ensure that other principal officers of the House, suspected to be involved in the alleged padding, step aside from their positions to allow for the investigation by the EFCC and other agencies to go ahead unhindered.”