Returnee Rep member Jibrin challenges Okonjo-Iweala over N7bn bribe-for-budget claim

Ex-Chair of House of Representatives Appropriation Committee, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has denied involvement in, and knowledge of N17 billion bribe-for-budget as claimed by ex-finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in her book ‘Fighting Corruption is Dangerous’.

Making the denial in a series of tweets on his handle on Sunday, Hon. Jubrin said Okonjo-Iweala’s claim was unknown to him.

He affirmed that he chaired the House Appropriation committee during the period but denied being part of the deal.

Jibrin only just returned to the House after serving a 190-day suspension for allegations he made against principal officers of the House whom he said were involved in illegally inserting items into the budget.

He also challenged Okonjo-Iweala to name those who accepted the bribe to enable government focus its investigation.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to media reports from extract of a book- Fighting corruption is dangerous- written by former Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala where-in she stated that in a tough session with National Assembly’s ad-hoc committee on budget (made up of chairs of Finance and Appropriation Committee of both chambers and other leaders of National Assembly), 17 billion naira was forced into the budget for election expenses for members of NASS.

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“As Chairman House Committee on Finance during the period in question, I wish to state as follows: I was NEVER part of a meeting where such decision was made. Iam not aware of any 17billion naira introduced in the 2014 budget for election expenses for members of NASS. I did not benefit in any way or form from such a money if at all it ever existed.

“It is unfair for the former Minister of finance to make such grievous allegation in a blanket manner. She should have named those that participated in the said meeting. That will be a higher service to the country and will aid investigation and help establish culpability.

“Budget is not rocket science. The former Finance Minister with her institutional memory, documents at her disposal and network can identify and state specifically where the money was inserted in the budget and how it was implemented in favour of the alleged beneficiaries.

“In all my interactions (including budget matters), oversight and sometimes confrontation with the former Minister of finance, it always centered on issues particularly on the MTEF as well as the economy. Most of our activities, engagements and discuss are in the public glare.

“I am by this statement putting up myself before the anti graft agency to investigate me and established if I am part of that decision or benefited from its outcome or proceed. I do not take allegations of corruption lightly-No one should! God bless”, he tweeted.

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