Alleged House Corruption: Go ahead expose more, SERAP urges Jibrin

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has encouraged Abdulmumin Jibrin to go ahead and make more disclosure to Nigerians about his allegations of systemic corruption in the House of Representatives.

This encouragement is coming after Jibrin on Monday threatened to expose more alleged systemic corruption in the investigative hearings, oversight functions as well as the internal budget of the House.

Adetokunbo Mumuni, executive director of the group, in a statement released on Tuesday said “We encourage Mr Jibrin to tell Nigerians more about his allegations of systemic corruption in the House of Representatives.

“Mr Jibrin will be doing a positive act of ‘good citizenship’ by revealing how exactly is the House profiting from its investigative hearings and oversight functions; and disclosing the House’s internal budget.

“His allegations of budget padding and fraud in the legislative functions threaten and harm the public interest, and may amount to crimes against humanity especially given the alleged systemic and widespread nature of the crimes in the House.”

SERAP said that it has been concerned that Mr Jibrin is not being appropriately treated or protected by the authorities to remedy the exposed threats or harm to him, adding that “no whistle-blower should ever be penalised simply for making a public interest disclosure.”

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Part of the statement read, “Unless the government of President Muhammadu Buhari grants Mr Jibin the appropriate protection deserving of a whistle-blower, encourage him to disclose corruption in the House’s investigative and oversight functions, and promptly act on those allegations, a significant opportunity to protect the public interest would be missed. Buhari should send a strong message that retaliation or victimisation of whistle-blowers will not be tolerated under his watch.

“As a matter of law, this government has an obligation to promptly investigate public interest disclosures by a whistle-blower such as Mr Jibrin, and where necessary bring those suspected to be responsible to justice.”

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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