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Budget Padding: Jibrin Returns To Nigeria To Assist Anti-Graft Agencies

EFCC begins secret Probe of Dogara


It’s no longer news that Abdulmumin Jibrin, the suspended former chairman of the House of Representatives committee on appropriation, has returned to the country from the United Kingdom.

The embattled lawmaker had fled to the UK citing threat to his life as well as the need to give his anti-corruption movement more international exposure.

Following his return, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Herman Hembe, said the Kano State legislator sneaked into the country because he is being investigated by UK authorities for corruption.

“I understand that the suspended Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin has fled back to Nigeria after report of his ownership of five foreign accounts in Barclays Bank and property located at No. 81, Cotswold Gardens, London, NW2, 1PE in London was published‎,” Hembe said in an email statement.

“I wish to remind Jibrin that there is no longer hiding place for criminals.”

It is not clear when Jibrin returned to Nigeria, but Hembe maintained that he was trying to avoid investigation by the UK authorities.

“Having realised that even in the UK the National Crime Agency and the Financial Intelligence Unit have already profiled him and may soon open a case against him, he quietly sneaked back to Nigeria.

“His days of freedom are numbered and sooner rather than later he will face the full wrath of the law”, Hembe said.

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However, Jibrin explained that he returned to provide additional information to anti-corruption agencies as investigations continue into the allegation of corruption brought by Jibrin against House Speaker, Yakubu Jibrin and other principal officers of the House.

He said: “I returned to the country on the invitation of one of the anti-graft agencies who needed additional information from me as they were finalising investigation and ready to arraign Hon. Hembe and few others.

“I visited the agency and provided what they required and signed to stand witness.”

“Hon. Hembe is obviously aware of this fact and has been panicky and running helter-skelter including trying to get the Speaker to intervene and save him.

On the allegations that he was running from the authorities in the UK, Jibrin replied: “I travelled peacefully from the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Abuja and landed at Heathrow Airport and same on my way back.



“I also enjoyed my stay in London and other parts of Europe catching up with my vast international network, delivering lectures and granting interviews.”

Recall that Jibrin was accused by a group named “Anti-Corruption Unit” of operating foreign bank accounts while serving as a lawmaker in Nigeria, thereby contravening Nigeria’s code of conduct law.




     

     

    The group said the lawmaker had stashed millions of pounds in offshore bank accounts.

    The group’s director, Ifeanyi Okonkwo, in a statement on September 19said: “Details of the account statement obtained by some lawyers in the UK show that Jibrin has a total £1.558 million pounds (N825 million equivalent) in the account between June 1, 2016 and June 30, 2016.

    “Jibrin, however, withdrew the sum of £623.44 within the one month period bringing the balance in the account to £1, 376,193.84.”

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    To this Jibrin said: “I have responded to the lame allegations and my response is in the public glare.”

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