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| Yakubu Dogara |
CIVIL society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP),
has criticised the claims by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu
Dogara, that budget padding is not a crime under Nigerian law.
According to Dogara
after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa last
Friday, budget padding was not a crime under Nigerian laws...
“Budget
padding is not an offence. What is padding? I studied law and I have been in
the legislature and all this period I have never heard of the word padding
being an offence under any law…Why should I be worried. As far as I am
concerned, I am not worried over anything”, Dogara said.
Reacting to
this statement, SERAP through its Executive Director, Adetokunbo
Mumuni, yesterday categorically said that budget padding is among corruption
offences such as abuse of office, attempt to embezzle, divert, and
misappropriate public funds, conspiracy to act corruptly, and illicit
enrichment, which are recognised under the UN Convention against
Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party, and included in national
legislation such as the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act,
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Establishment Act and the Fiscal
Responsibility Act.
The group
maintained its position that budget padding is tantamount to corruption because
it is against the public interest and therefore calls for the resignation of
the speaker to allow transparent investigation of the matter.
“If Dogara
refuses to resign to allow for effective and transparent investigation and the
allegations of budget padding are swept under the carpet, the ability of the
House of Representatives to function as a watchdog and credible guardian of the
public interest would be seriously compromised.
“The
allegations of budget padding and abuse of office by the Speaker and principal
officials of the House of Representatives have continued to upset the public,
bringing the House’s integrity further into question.
“Dogara
therefore has a duty to explain to Nigerians the role he played in the alleged
budget padding in the House and abuse of office if the growing perception of
corruption in the House is to be addressed.
“Nigerians
would like Dogara to explain how the funds meant for legislative functions to
service guest houses were spent. Nigerians would also like Dogara to explain
allegations that favours were sought from multinational companies including the
allegation that a construction company was compelled to carry out some work at
his Asokoro ‘plot”, the group said.
