TheCable

Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman of the appropriations of the house of representatives, says two unnamed governors and three lawmakers are blocking his access to President Muhammadu Buhari to prevent him from stating his own side of the “budget padding” story. 

In a statement on Sunday, Jibrin accused Yakubu Dogara, the speaker, and the 12 others he accused of padding the 2016 budget are after his life.

He said while he had wanted to observe the “ceasefire” and stop commenting on the issue in the media, after his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) waded in, Dogara and others refused to.

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

“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.

“I discovered a grand plan by the group of two governors and three former members designed to provide soft-landing for Dogara and 12 others.”

Jibrin expressed shock that he was removed from his position as appropriations chairman for “padding” the budget, a reason Dogara said was not an offence after having a private meeting with the president.

In levelling fresh allegations against the speaker, the former appropriations chairman said the anti-corruption agencies should ask 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, ” he said.

He said it would be unfair to drag the senate into the matter, knowing fully well that it was the house that had commanding powers over appropriation.

Jibrin said since the “cabal” comprising of the two governors and three former members have blocked all avenues to reach Buhari, he had no choice than to plead with former heads of state like Olusegun Obasanjo, Yakubu Gowon amongst others.

Jibrin had accused Dogara and others of padding the 2016 budget through “unnecessary insertions”.