The budget padding scandal rocking Nigeria’s House of Representatives is back in public domain as Abdulmumin Jibrin, on Sunday night released a long statement via his social media handles, alleging that Speaker Yakubu Dogara was planning with 12 others to kill him.

He said, “I believe Speaker Dogara, the 12 others and some vested interest within and outside the House want to kill me. I no longer feel safe.”

Jibrin also added to his “corruption” list, two serving state governors and three former members of the House, whom, according to him, have been making concerted efforts, which include resorting to blackmail, in order to see that all the issues he raised were swept under the carpet.

The Kano State lawmaker said he was pushed to go public again with his allegations, despite his party’s directive that both he and Dogara should quit making public comments on the issue, because “While I was determined to observe the ceasefire, Dogara and his group of few rogues didn’t.”

Jibrin added “On Friday the Speaker spoke to the press after meeting the president on the matter, and they launched a massive attack on me on Saturday and today Sunday in the media, while the party is keeping a sealed lip. Nobody will blame me that I responded.”

On the attempts to blackmail him and rubbish his credibility, Jibrin said “Nigerians should know that the whole agenda of this blackmail is being coordinated by a group of five people, two serving Governors and three former members of the House.

“I will give their names in due course. They have been running pillar to post and I keep wondering what really they have to hide or are afraid of since they are not Members of the House,” he said.

Jibrin said his meeting with the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, “went very well and in all honesty they were very objective and showed understanding.

“I told the party that I will be part of any peaceful resolution EXCEPT on the criminal allegations I have raised against Speaker Dogara and 12 others.

“On that, I told the party there is no going back and further informed them that more revelations will be made once investigation commences.

“I also informed the party that I will stand as witness against them and provide every support that will help investigation and prosecution of these 13 extremely corrupt members.”

Padding not an offence

Speaker Dogara had reportedly told the media after meeting with President Buhari on Friday, that “padding was not an offence.

To this, Jibrin said:

“I was shocked and dumbfounded when I saw the Speaker on television saying padding is not an offense not because of the disgraceful contradiction after clearly stating that I was “sacked” for padding but I could not believe he could have the temerity to make such reckless, insensitive, arrogant and fraudulent statement right within the sanctity of the president’s Presidential Villa, a place that symbolizes zero tolerance for corruption.”

“He didn’t know that by that statement he has clearly confirmed my allegation that he and 3 others connived with some committee chairmen to insert into the budget over 2,000 items worth 284billion naira.

“This has really proved that Speaker Dogara is the son, father, grandfather and great grandfather of padding! Nigerians are watching!!!” he said.

More Allegations

Jibrin made more indicting allegations against the speaker.

“In addition to the allegations I already made, the anti-corruption agencies should ask Speaker Dogara why on earth he collects 25million naira every month just to spend it the way he wants.

“They should also ask him to provide proof of how he is funding his farm in Nasarawa State which was just few hectares six months ago and now miraculously expands to about 100 hectares with new buildings and state-of-the-art equipment worth millions as well as the mansion he has suddenly built in Wuse II within six months.

Jibrin said the Senate knows very little about the budget matter as “the House that has commanding powers over appropriation.

“There is nothing in the senate appropriation committee secretariat. That is why I requested for the protection of only that of the House when I heard Dogara was planning to destroy the computers and the hardware.

“It is also a strong tradition of the National Assembly that in an event of disagreement between standing committee of the Senate and the House, that of the House supersedes,” he said.

He maintained that his allegation was against Speaker Dogara and the other 12 house members and not the entire House, Senate and the Executive arm of government.

“This is all orchestrated by the group of 2 governors, 3 former members and Speaker Dogara and his corrupt cabal,” Jibrin said.

“Threat To My Life”

Jibrin alleged that the speaker and the 12 others were seeking to kill him.

“I have carefully followed their desperation to suppress what will go down in history as the biggest corruption case in Nigeria.

“I have prepared myself for any eventuality. I have spoken to my mum and dad extensively during the weekend. I have prepared my family. I have handed over a handwritten note and documents to a popular SAN, a man of integrity and other persons that I believe will lay it bare even if they succeed in killing me.

“It is a fact that all the members that signed for Dogara’s vote of confidence collected money in a shameful and disgraceful exercise, and despite that the consensus remains the Speaker must step aside and face external investigation,” he said.

He added that “… this cabal of two governors and three former members has blocked every avenue that I can use to reach the President so that he can get a different perspective on this issue.

“I am therefore left with no choice than to plead with all our former Heads of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, Alh Shehu Shagari, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Enest Shonekan, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar and Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the diplomatic community, particularly Ambassador of the United States of America, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, the German and French Ambassadors and all well-meaning Nigerians to join in the call on the corrupt and fraudulent Speaker Dogara and 3 others to reconvene the House immediately, step aside and allow for a thorough external investigation and also call on the anti-corruption agencies to expedite action on investigation and commencement of prosecution in line with the anti-corruption stands of this government,” Jibrin said.