'Jibrin, consultant disappeared with 2016 budget for 3 weeks' - Lawmaker reveals

The deputy chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Chris Azubogo has said that Abdulmumin Jibrin disappeared with the 2016 budget.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday, July 29, 2016, the lawmaker alleged that Jibrin had worked on the budget with a consultant from an undisclosed location for three weeks.

Azubogu said Jibrin took all decisions on the budget without consulting members of the committee.

"For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that a comprehensive collation of the reports of the budget from the various standing committees of the house was done by the appropriation committee which was in the process of deliberation when the ousted chairman unilaterally hijacked the entire budget to a hideout with his consultant without the consent of the committee.

ALSO READ: Budget Padding Scandal: "Dogara harassed staff, seized computers in my office" - Jibrin says

"That was the last time the Committee saw the budget only for Hon Jibrin Abdulmumin to resurface about three weeks later, with a report purported to have come from the Committee.

"In his calm and peaceful manner, Mr speaker sought to resolve the matter amicably in the overall interest of the House and the nation. In his usual recalcitrant manner, Hon Abdulmumin preferred the confrontational approach which irked the members to request for his urgent removal from office," he added.

Azubogu however stated that there "no breach" in the appropriation process that will warrant any external interference

Meanwhile, the former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon has said that anyone found guilty of budget padding must be prosecuted.