Budget Padding: Jibrin Resumes

A former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumini Jibrin, formally resumed work on Wednesday, a day after the House lifted his suspension.

The Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, had announced the lifting of the suspension on Tuesday after Jibrin apologised to the House.

He had been suspended in September 2016 for 180 legislative days.

On his re-entry into the chambers after being out of the House for almost one year and four months, Jibrin went to the Chair and shook hands with Dogara.

He was ushered into the chambers by the Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa.

Jibrin waved at his colleagues as he entered the chambers but some were reluctant in responding.

However, some members from his Kano State caucus and the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Orker Jev, hugged Jibrin.

He sat for about 45 minutes observing proceedings before he left.

Jibrin said little apart from sharing occasional smiles with colleagues.

In 2016, Dogara  had sacked Jibrin over alleged shoddy handling of the 2016 budget.

But, days later, Jibrin came out to accuse Dogara and three other top officers of the House of padding the budget by over N40bn.

The others were the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yussuff Lasun; the Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and the Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor.

Jibrin also alleged that several favoured committee chairmen and members had projects inserted into the budget, among other allegations.

He called for the resignation of the officers and their prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-corruption agencies.

However, the House later investigated Jibrin and came up with a report that he exposed the House to “ridicule” by making the budget padding allegations.

A resolution to suspend him was later passed in a unanimous voice vote.