Budget Padding Scandal: Anti-graft panel to quiz ex-Appropriation chair, Jibrin

The Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption has invited a former chairman of House Committee on Appropriation, Abulmumin Jibrin, over the unfolding budget padding scandal.

The invitation followed repeated calls from Mr. Jibrin that anti-graft agencies should investigate the veracity of his scathing petitions against the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, and some other lawmakers.

The letter said Mr. Jibrin should appear before the anti-corruption panel at the Meeting Room of PACAC which is situated on the 1st Floor, Phase I, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Building, Federal Secretariat, Abuja, on Wednesday, August 24, 2016. Time: 11:00 a.m.

Bolaji Owasanoye, the executive secretary of PACAC who signed the letter on behalf of the committee, said Mr. Jibrin had “forwarded a petition and requested” an appointment.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on August 10, 2015, set up the committee to advise his government on the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation of required reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

Mr. Jibrin is accusing the speaker and other senior members of the House of padding the 2016 budget with fictitious projects amounting to billions of naira.

The speaker denies the allegation.

The invitation by PACAC could give Mr. Jibrin’s campaign a much-needed boost, having recently suffered a major setback after 10 principal officers, including a hitherto neutral Femi Gbajabiamila, released a statement to denounce the scandal.