A Coalition of Media and Civil Society groups – the Africa Media Roundtable Initiative – yesterday advised the former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin and other aggrieved lawmakers to proceed to the court, if they have credible evidence of budget padding.
In a statement by its Executive Director, Comrade Olabode Adeyemi, the group said Jibrin should produce credible evidence against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the other he accused of o involvement in padding the 2016 Budget.
The statement said: “Rather than taking the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), he should allow the Judiciary, which to intervene in the matter.
“We are calling on Hon Jibrin and other aggarieved lawmakers to seek redress in the court to protect the image of the House of Representatives and not going to either the EFCC or ICPC which are the agencies of the Executives. If you approach the Court you have to swear to an affidavit before making your allegations and if you lie under oath, you know the consequences under the law but you go to the ICPC or the EFCC to make such allegations, you may later make a U-turn and change you statements.
“I can remember vividly that when the 2016 budget was passed by the National Assembly, there were insinuations in some quarters that it was padded, but Hon Jibrin that defended it. He never spoke out against the House leaders until he was sacked from the plum job. If what he is saying is true, let him go to court to seek redress.
“We are thanking the Channels Television for repeatedly showing the whole World the video clips of his defence. Now that there was nothing like budget padding, why is he now claiming that there was budget padding by the Speaker and 10 others? If he is sure of his allegations he should go to court or shut up””.
