According to Dogara,
“Budget padding is not an offence. What is padding? I studied law and I have
been in the legislature and all this period I have never heard of the word
‘padding’ being an offence under any law”.
The Socio-Economic Rights
and Accountability Project (SERAP) has picked holes in the claim of the Speaker
of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, that “budget padding is not an
offence under Nigerian law”.
The embattled Speaker made
the comment last week after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu
Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Mr. Dogara met the
president ostensibly to clarify the situation in the House, which has been
engulfed in crisis of confidence in the last two weeks, following allegations
by the ousted Chairman of Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, that
the Speaker, his deputy, Yussuf Lasun, and eleven other lawmakers, including
two other principal officers, “criminally inserted” over 2,000 items worth
N284billion into the 2016 budget.
Reacting to Mr. Dogara’s
statement that he did not commit any known offence under the law, SERAP, in a
statement Sunday by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, insisted that he
alongside others mentioned in the allegation by Mr. Jibrin, committed an act of
corruption.
The organization said,
“Budget padding in fact is corruption, as it is implicit in corruption offences
such as abuse of office, attempt to embezzle, divert, and misappropriate public
funds, conspiracy to act corruptly, and illicit enrichment, which are
recognized under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a
state party, and included in national legislation such as the Corrupt Practices
and Other Related Offences Act, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Establishment Act and the Fiscal Responsibility Act”.
The statement reads in
part: “The allegations against Mr Dogara and other principal officials of the
House of Representatives also suggest a subversion of the budget process, which
in itself is a crime but also a fundamental breach of constitutional provisions
and an affront to internationally recognized human rights.
“A prima-facie case of
corruption is established when elected officials are allegedly influenced to
act contrary to their obligations of office by the prospect of financial gain
to themselves. Budget padding also amounts to corruption as the action is
against the public interest. Any appearance of corruption in the budget process
can result in a cynical public to losing interest in political participation
altogether. And democracy can’t work unless Nigerians have faith in those who
govern.
“If Mr Dogara refuses to
resign to allow for effective and transparent investigation and the allegations
of budget padding are swept under the carpet, the ability of the House of
Representatives to function as a watchdog and credible guardian of the public
interest would be seriously compromised.
“The allegations of budget
padding and abuse of office by the Speaker and principal officials of the House
of Representatives have continue to outrage the public, bringing the House’s
integrity further into question.
“Mr Dogara therefore has a
duty to explain to Nigerians the role he played in the alleged budget padding
in the House and abuse of office if the growing perception of corruption in the
House is to be addressed.
“Nigerians would like Mr
Dogara to explain how the funds meant for legislative functions to service
guest houses were spent. Nigerians would also like Mr Dogara to explain
allegations that favours were sought from multinational companies including the
allegation that a construction company was compelled to carry out some work at
his Asokoro ‘plot’.
“The truth about the
alleged budget padding and abuse of office cannot be kept from the public, and
treated as an internal matter or a case of see no evil, speak no evil.
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