Budget Padding: Security Agencies Probe Jibrin’s Assets In US, UK, Dubai, Others

Chei Chei Chei!!!

Security agencies have begun investigations and profiling of assets both in Nigeria and abroad allegedly owned by former chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin.

New Telegraph gathered that the embattled lawmaker-turned anticorruption crusader is said to have multi-billion naira assets in Nigeria, Dubai, United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The assets are mostly houses.

The lawmaker is also said to be maintaining bank accounts in these countries. Jibrin had, at the weekend, confessed being a beneficiary of a questionable office maintenance allowance for members of the House to the tune of N650 million.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is already investigating him. This revelation came barely a day after he accused the 10 principal officers of sharing more than N10 billion in fraudulent proceeds.

The Kano-born lawmaker, who regretted taking the loot, however promised that he would explain how he used his ill-gotten N650 million. “I have records and account of how I spent every penny that I have taken.

In fact, it has been published in a 150-page book. “However, I have never been comfortable with the money! Thank God the wasteful allowances regime has reached its Waterloo! The country and House will be better off!”

Jibrin had confirmed. But a reliable source in the National Assembly close to the Presidency told New Telegraph yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed security agencies to do a thorough background checks on Jibrin.

According to the source, it was discovered that Jibrin owns multi-billion naira assets scattered both in Nigeria and abroad, adding that the security agencies, including the EFCC, have made appreciable success and are still working.

“I want to let you know that because of the series of allegations being churned out by the former appropriation chairman, the Presidency had directed security agencies to do background checks on him and the report revealed damning things about him.

“The preliminary report shows that he has properties worth billions of naira here in Nigeria, Dubai, US, UK, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In fact, by what I gathered, Jibrin is far richer than imagined.”

According to the source, the president was shocked at the revelations so far made. “His assets are stupendous and the presidency is still shocked at how he made such wealth. Although, it is understood he was into business, the source of his assets is being tracked by the security agencies,” the source stated.

He said the security apparatus have also compiled list of his activities when he was chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation during the 7th Assembly. The source explained that it was because of these investigations that Jibrin has not been allowed access to President Buhari since the budget padding scandal broke out.

“This must have informed the decision of the Villa not to grant him access to the president. Buhari was said to have been irked by the amount of stupendous wealth he has garnered at a youthful age,” the lawmaker disclosed.

It will be recalled that Jibrin had, at the beginning of his allegations against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other members of the House, cried foul over deliberate efforts to stall his access to Mr. President.

According to the source, Jibrin’s decision to confess that he also benefited from the alleged illegal allowances to members of the House was taken after news got to him that the Presidency had ordered a secret investigation into his assets.

“You know, he’s very smart and intelligent. When he accused the 10 principal officers of sharing over N10 billion in illegal allowances, he didn’t mention his own. But as soon as he got wind of the news of background checks on him, he offered to explain how he expended what he was paid.

“He has, all along, denied that he was not part of budget padding but in this case, he also implicated himself,” the source stated. Jibrin had, last Friday, said Dogara allegedly got the lion’s share of N1.5 billion out of the N10 billion with deputy speaker, Yusuf Lasun, benefitting N800 million; Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, N1.2 billion; his deputy, Buba Jibril, N1.2 billion; House Whip, Alhassan Doguwa, N1.2 billion; and his deputy, Pally Iriase, N700 million.

Others were Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, N1.2 billion, his deputy, Chukwuka Onyema, N800 million; Minority Whip, Yakubu Barde, N700 million and his deputy, Binta Bello, N700 million. All attempts to get Jibrin react to this latest development were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone number could not go through.

lol...Now i truly understand the adage ''He who comes to equity must come with clean hands''