Former House of Representatives committee chairman on appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin has alleged that Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, is bribing lawmakers with $25,000 each for a vote of confidence signature on him and other principal officers named in the ongoing budget padding scandal.
Jibrin who made the allegation on his Twitter handle on Wednesday, said the register is opened at the Speaker’s Asokoro Guest House.
According to him, the bribery is allegedly being coordinated by Hon Zakari Mohammed, Hon Jagaba Adams Jagaba and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Hon CID Maduabum.
“Fellow Nigerians, in a desperate attempt, corrupt Speaker Dogara and the 3 others have opened a register for a vote of confidence signature.
”The register is opened at his Asokoro Guest House located at Wilbeford Juta crescent, Hon members are giving $25,000 to sign. This disgraceful act is coordinated by Hon Zakari Mohammed, Hon Jagaba Adams Jagaba and DCOS to Mr Speaker Hon CID Maduabum Investigation by anti-graft agencies is already on and I pledge to support the investigation and prosecution of these corrupt public officers.
”I am also obliged to respond to some allegations that I am sponsored by some external forces to destabilize the House of Representatives. The worthless and laughable allegation is orchestrated by Speaker Dogara and his gang of thieves to discredit my unstoppable mission
“No external forces in this matter, if there are any, they deserve commendation for sponsoring a struggle to wipe out corruption in the House In any case, are the external forces responsible for the massive theft and abuse of office by Speaker Dogara and the 12 other members?
“He will soon resort to religious blackmail forgetting I was the one, Muslim from northwest that spearhead & mobilize resources for his election.
“I had a very good meeting with my party APC yesterday. I thank the party for their objectivity & I will continue to cooperate with the party
But, I stand by my allegations against Speaker Dogara and his corrupt gang of 12. We shall continue this struggle. There is no going back,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker (DCOS), Hon. CID Maduabum, has debunked the allegation, saying Jibrin was a drowning man.
According to a statement he issued on Wednesday: “The disgraced Hon. Abdulmumin has once again accused me of being involved in coordinating the distribution of $25,000 to various members in the House of Representatives Zonal Caucus in order to support the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dogara Yakubu.
“It is true that he loves mentioning my name, but is he so unintelligent not to notice a pattern. Hon. Abonta disagrees with him on national television, he immediately adds his name in a petition to EFCC; Hon. Jagaba grants an interview against him, he adds his name in the charge sheet which he carries about.
“The Appropriations Committee members disown him, he immediately alleges inducement of $20,000; the whole House rises against him, then immediately everyone is given $25,000 USD each.
“Can he not see that no one needs to be induced when he is on a one man riot squad to denigrate all members of the House and pull down the institution of the National Assembly?
“Once again, let me re-state that the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dogara Yakubu did not give me or anyone any money to give to any member of the House of Representatives. This charge, as usual, exists in the demented and diseased imagination of the drowning Abdulmumin who is desperately grasping at every straw in his deception, campaign of calamity, demagoguery and propaganda which he has unleashed on innocent public officers whose sole offence is that they fatally misjudged Hon. Abdulmumin’s instability of character and unsuitability to hold public office?
“Let me again remind Hon. Abdulmumin that Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara is a God-fearing man, a charismatic leader, a progressive democrat, an incorruptible Nigerian, that cannot be dented by his tissue of lies, fables and penchant for fictional accusations and idiocy. What Abdulmumin is saying is that Billions of Naira is being shared to members to pursue an inconsequential fellow? What an absurdity from a celebrated con man and pathological liar?
“I wish to state that since this attack is on my personal integrity, I reserve the right to defend myself with all the arsenal at my disposal within the ambit of the law.”
