Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project
(SERAP) has urged the Speaker of the House of
Representatives Yakubu Dogara to “urgently refer to
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and
other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for an
effective and independent investigation the
allegations that the leadership of the House
attempted to pad this year’s budget to the tune of N40
billion and that the member who blew the whistle was
victimized for opposing immunity for principal
officers.”
The call followed allegations by the immediate past
Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations,
Abdulmunin Jibrin, that Speaker Yakubu Dogara and
three other principal officers of the House victimized
him for refusing to support the approval of N40
billion for principal officers out of N100 billion
approved for members of the House for constituency
project as well as immunity for presiding officers.
In a statement Sunday issued by its Executive
Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP said that, “Given
the seriousness and gravity of the allegations against
the leadership of the House, any investigation by the
House would not be enough, as this would not meet
the threshold of an effective, transparent and
independent investigation. Nigerians won’t have
confidence in the House investigating itself in this
case.”
The statement read in part: “Referring the allegations
to both the EFCC and the ICPC for a joint investigation
would show that the House leadership is willing and
able to enhance the transparency and accountability
of its system and that of the National Assembly as a
whole.”
“The Speaker must now move swiftly to refer the
allegations to the EFCC and the ICPC to allow for a
swift, transparent, effective and independent
investigation in order to contain the damage that is
already done, but also not to create the impression of
a cover up. There must be full accountability for any
leader or member of the House found to be
responsible for corruption and abuse of office.
“These allegations also raise numerous questions
about the need for greater level of transparency and
accountability in the National Assembly, such as
telling Nigerians the salaries and allowances of
Senators and members of the House; public auditing
of spending by the National Assembly, and why
several concluded reports on allegations of
corruption that have been investigated by the National
Assembly remain shrouded in secrecy and skewed to
favour suspected corrupt officers.
“SERAP also urges the leadership of the House to
publicly commit that the House will not promote
constitutional amendments on immunity for its
principal officers. No matter how it’s framed, no
public interest is served by the National Assembly
seeking to grant its principal officers immunity that
wasn’t contemplated by the framers of the 1999
Constitution.
“It’s absolutely important that members of the
National Assembly–the Senate and House of
Representatives–conduct themselves at all times in
the knowledge that their role is a public one;
appearances of propriety can be as important as
actual conflicts of interest in establishing what is
acceptable behaviour. “SERAP also urges Mr Dogara
to use the opportunity of addressing the allegations
raised against the leadership of the House to propose
a bill on members’ integrity, which we strongly
believe would help to restore public confidence in the
National Assembly; provide a check against
corruption; and protect the leadership of the House
and Senate from claims and criticisms of self-
interest.
“Legislators are fiduciaries in terms of acting with
honesty, integrity and the utmost good faith in the
public interest. The oath of office sworn by members
of National Assembly at the beginning of every term
also sets a clear evidence of their fiduciary duty that
they must be faithful to the constitution and commit
themselves to the greatest happiness of the greatest
number.”
