Abuja – The former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, says the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, bribed some members with 25,000 dollars each to sign vote of confidence on him.
Jibrin said this in a statement he gave to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
He added that the money was for selected members to sign a vote of confidence on the speaker and three other principal officers accused of padding 2016 budget.
According to him, some Representatives were given 25,000 dollars to sign a register opened at the Speaker’s guest house in Asokoro.
“This disgraceful act was coordinated by Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba and Deputy Chief of Staff to Speaker, Hon. CID Maduabum.
“It is a shame that Mr Speaker has not responded to any of the allegations against him but has resorted to look for fraudulent cover.
“My stand on this is that the corrupt Speaker Dogara, Lasun, Doguwa and Ogor must listen to Nigerians, reconvene the House immediately and step aside.
“Investigation by anti-graft agencies is already on and I pledge to support the investigation and prosecution of these corrupt public officers’’, he said.
Responding, Rep. Zakari Mohammed said the allegation was false.
“My attention has been drawn to yet another tweet by the former chairman appropriation committee, Hon. Jibrin, saying that I and others were distributing 25,000 dollars to each member of the House.
“That the money was to generate signatures for speaker Dogara as vote of confidence on him.
“The accusation is not only untrue but it is another tale by moonlight to hoodwink Nigerians to malign my image.
“Fellow countrymen please disregard this cheap blackmail aimed at playing to the gallery. I challenge Jibrin to name at least 10 members or less who benefitted from the bribe.
“My advice to Jibrin is that he should stop the mudslinging and concentrate on licking his self inflicted wounds’’, he said. (NAN)