Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara to urgently refer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for an effective and independent investigation of the alleged N40 billion padding of this year’s budget currently rocking the House of Representatives.
SERAP’s call is coming on the heels of the allegations by the immediate past Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmunin Jibrin, that Speaker Yakubu Dogara and three other principal officers of the House victimised him for refusing to support immunity for presiding officers as well as the approval of N40 billion for principal officers out of N100 billion approved for members of the House for constituency project.
The call by SERAP is contained in an online statement signed and made available by the group’s Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni.
He stated that given the seriousness and gravity of the allegations against the leadership of the House, any investigation by the House would not be enough, as this would not meet the threshold of an effective, transparent and independent investigation. Nigerians won’t have confidence in the House investigating itself in this case.
According to the “Referring the allegations to both the EFCC and the ICPC for a joint investigation would show that the House leadership is willing and able to enhance the transparency and accountability of its system and that of the National Assembly as a whole. The Speaker must now move swiftly to refer the allegations to the EFCC and the ICPC to allow for a swift, transparent, effective and independent investigation in order to contain the damage that is already done, but also not to create the impression of a cover up. There must be full accountability for any leader or member of the House found to be responsible corruption and abuse of office.”
It continued, “These allegations also raise numerous questions about the need for greater level of transparency and accountability in the National Assembly, such as telling Nigerians the salaries and allowances of Senators and members of the House; public auditing of spending by the National Assembly, and why several concluded reports on allegations of corruption that have been investigated by the National Assembly remain shrouded in secrecy and skewed to favour suspected corrupt officers. SERAP also urges the leadership of the House to publicly commit that the House will not promote constitutional amendments on immunity for its principal officers. No matter how it’s framed, no public interest is served by the National Assembly seeking to grant its principal officers immunity that wasn’t contemplated by the framers of the 1999 Constitution.”
SERAP argued that it is absolutely important that members of the National Assembly; the Senate and House of Representatives–conduct themselves at all times in the knowledge that their role is a public one; appearances of propriety can be as important as actual conflicts of interest in establishing what is acceptable behaviour.
The group also urged Dogara to use the opportunity of addressing the allegations raised against the leadership of the House to propose a bill on members’ integrity, which, SERAP strongly believe would help to restore public confidence in the National Assembly; provide a check against corruption; and protect the leadership of the House and Senate from claims and criticisms of self- interest.
“Legislators are fiduciaries in terms of acting with honesty, integrity and the utmost good faith in the public interest. The oath of office sworn by members of National Assembly at the beginning of every term also sets a clear evidence of their fiduciary duty that they must be faithful to the constitution and commit themselves to the greatest happiness of the greatest number.” the statement reads.