"Dogara runs Reps finance like a cult," - Jibrin reveals

On Thursday, July 21, 2016, Jibrin called for the resignation of Speaker Dogara, his deputy, Yusuf Lasun, minority leader, Leo Ogor and the Chief Whip, Ado Doguwa over alleged budget padding.

According to the statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, July 25, 2016, Jibrin accused Speaker Dogara of operating a "three man cabal" made up of the deputy, whip and minority leader.

He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to begin investigation into the allegations.

The statement reads:"Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his senior cabal namely Deputy Speaker Lasun, Whip Doguwa and Minority leader Ogor has promoted corruption so badly in the House that if President Muhammadu Buhari with his disdain for corruption and corrupt people have the slightest idea, he will ban the QUARTET permanently from the Villa before they eventually allow for proper and unbiased investigation by the House. "Mr Speaker and Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun diverted millions of naira all in the name of paying for guest houses and official residence. The issue became so messy that the Deputy Speaker openly accused Hon Herma Hembe of short changing them of millions of naira in the deal to the shock of many Hon Members. "Speaker Yakubu Dogara frequently abuse his office amounting to conflict of interest by soliciting for inappropriate favours from agencies and Multinational companies. He forced an agency to grant loans and a construction company blackmailed to do some work at his Asokoro 'plot.'"Speaker Yakubu Dogara has carefully designed a scheme to scam Hon Members through deduction from their salaries certain amount of money for a so called mortgage arrangements to build houses for members. He has been applying every under hand tactics to ensure Members agree to the deal. "Speaker Yakubu Dogara  has consistently refused members access to the financial dealings and internal budget of the House. He runs the financial management of the House like a cult aided and abated by the chairman House services Hon Babanlle Ila.  It is no longer news that all over the House, Hon Members are aware of the monumental fraud perpetrated by Speaker Yakubu Dogara in this regard. "We are even told that this is a child's play compared to the mess and allegations of money laundering he left behind as chairman House services in both the 6th and 7th Assembly. The EFCC should have something to start working with in respect to his tenure as chairman House services if they properly dust their files. "I am therefore once again calling on Hon colleagues and well meaning Nigerians to prevail on Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his 3 other cohorts to put the interest of country first and allow the House to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations on them. "This is just the tip of an ice bag. I will make further revelations in due course."

Meanwhile, former president Olusegun Obasajo has said that the ongoing budget padding scandal only confirmed his earlier claim that Nigerian lawmakers are rogues and armed robbers.

Obasajo made the claim earlier on Monday after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.