The former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, yesterday, said he had furnished the anti-corruption agencies with enough information to indict the Speaker,  Yakubu Dogara and 12 others.

“Speaker Dogara and the other 12 corrupt members are running from pillar to post trying to re-define padding, trying to avoid the anti-corruption agencies, looking for cover or soft landing. I have held several meetings with the agencies, provided useful documents and vital information. They obviously have so much to hide, so much to fear.”

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, he denied ever abusing the privileges of his office during his tenure as chairman of the appropriations committee.

He insisted that principal officers of the House wanted him out because of his stiff anti-corruption stance and his independent nature.

“Since the Speaker Yakubu Dogara made the public comment that padding is not an offence, the question on the lips of Nigerians is why then did the same Speaker Dogara say he “sacked” me on the grounds of padding allegations?

“I did nothing wrong and I committed no offence. I did not abuse my office or corruptly enrich myself in the five years I have been in the House. The only reason why they wanted me out is my independent-mindedness, resistance to corruption and my refusal to ‘play ball’ on the gross abuse of office they institutionalised in the House.

“They simply want to have someone that can do their corrupt bidding. Now that I have exposed the fact that Speaker Dogara and the three others are the padders, padding is no longer an offence,” he said

Jibrin challenged the Speaker and other principal officers to forward details of corruption allegations against him to the anti-graft agencies.

“I have repeatedly urged Speaker Dogara and his gang of 12 corrupt members to feel free and forward any allegations they have against me to the anti-corruption agencies. That is if they finally find something beyond the lame allegations of ‘immaturity’ and ‘betrayal’, which I have dealt with in my memoir series that will commence in a few days. I am not in any way immune to investigation and prosecution if found wanting. I have pledged to stand as witness against them on this matter; they can as well stand witness against me.”

According to Jibrin, corrupt elements have infiltrated the House, making the institution a hub of systemic corruption.

“I repeat, there is massive individual and institutional corruption in the House of Representatives, and all Nigerians have a responsibility to avail themselves of this rare opportunity to flush out corruption in the House. I have pledged my continuous support and assistance to the security and anti-corruption agencies.

“Let me also state that contrary to some myopic opinion that it would affect the institution of the House, it will rather free the institution of the grip of these corrupt vested interests, restore its integrity and shape it to become a pride to Nigerians home and abroad,” he added.