Lawmaker says DSS can’t interfere in legislative matters

chika ebuzor

July 31, 2016 9:14 AM

Ogor said agencies like the police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ICPC are backed by law to handle such issues.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Abdulmumin Jibrin

The House of Representatives minority leader, Leo Ogor, has said that the Department of State Services (DSS) has no business involving themselves in the budget padding scandal currently rocking the Green Chambers.

This is coming on the heels of reports that the secretariat of the House committee on appropriation was locked by officers of the DSS.

He also dismissed allegations levelled against him by the former chairman of the appropriation committee of the House, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Jibrin had earlier levelled several allegations of fraud against the Hose Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

Allegations and counter allegations have been making the headlines, but the former committee chairman insists that the Speaker should resign, adding that he has proof to back all he has said.

Jibrin also mentioned that Ogor was part of the people who manipulated figures of various projects in the 2016 budget.

Speaking to Premium Times on the allegations, the House minority leader said “The internal security of the nation is the function of the SSS. This is clearly the work of the Nigeria Police. EFCC can also investigate the matter."

Ogor also said he is commenting on the budget padding scandal because his name was mentioned.

He also frowned at a comment by Jibrin that he is living above his means as a legislator.

The lawmaker said “it is very insulting for anybody to tell me I’m living above my means because I live in Apo Legislative Quarters for 14 years.

“Is it because I’m not living in Maitama or Asokoro?”

Adding that “The president said I won’t sign until I see the details.

“So, the question you’re supposed to ask yourself is, why did the president refuse to sign the budget? Because the budget was mutilated.

“When the president returned the budget back, the budget was now referred to the National Assembly. The National Assembly set up an ad hoc committee to now restore the budget from that mutilated nature.”

“Do I have access to appropriation? For Christ's sake, let all of us grow up.

“Somebody is busy lying there and everybody has accepted,” Ogor said.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has said the party chairman, John Odigie Oyegun is not capable of handling the affairs of the ruling party, following the fall-out in the House of Representatives.

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chika ebuzor