Speaker Yakubu Dogara

Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representatives, has issued Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin the immediate past Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation seven-day ultimatum to retract allegations that linked him with budget padding.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Turaki Hassan, Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

Dogara said that the allegations made by Jibrin had dented his hard earned image.

He warned that he would be compelled to take legal action if the former chairman failed to retract the alleged libelous statement.

The statement said that Dogara’s demand for retraction of the allegations and apology was contained in a letter addressed to Jibrin by Mr Joash Amupitan, counsel to the speaker.

The letter read: “We act as solicitors to Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of House of Representatives of three arm zone National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

“Herein after referred to as our client and on whose instructions we write this letter to you.

“The attention of our client has been drawn to a libelous press statement titled “The Corrupt Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his 3-man Cabal’’you issued on July 25, 2016 which was made available to members of the press.

“The personal references are obviously directed at our client and amount to a very serious libel.

“By the said publication and without putting to the public any shred of evidence, our client is portrayed as a criminal, corrupt, dishonest, fraudulent.

“He also seen now as dishonourable and unfit to hold the position of Speaker of House of Representatives.

“Our client’s reputation has further been brought down in the estimation of right thinking members of the society and he has been thrown into public opprobrium, odium, scorn and ridicule.

“Consequently, we consider your publication on the matter as not only libelous but made in bad faith, an act of vendetta.

“The said publication is also aimed at causing disaffection among members of the House of Representatives.

“Sequel to the above, we request you to submit immediate apology and retraction of the publication in an equally conspicuous position in all the print and electronic media where the publication appeared.

“Take notice that in the event of your failure or refusal to comply with the above mentioned demands within seven days of your receipt of this letter a legal action shall follow.

“If we have to pursue this course, we shall be claiming aggravated and exemplary damages.’’

The statement issued by Dogara’s SA media said that Jibrin accused the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, Chief Wip, Alhassan Doguwa, and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor of padding the 2016 budget.

He said that Jibrin also accused the trio of allocating N40 billion to themselves out of the N100 billion allocated to the National Assembly.

Jibrin also alleged that Dogara laundered money when he was chairman House Services in the sixth and seventh assemblies.

Meanwhile, Jibrin had declared that he would not withdraw his allegations against the speaker and the three principal officers of the House.

In a signed statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, the embattled lawmaker said that Dogara’s legal action was predictable.

He said that he had approached the EFCC and ICPC on a date to submit his petition against the Speaker and the three principal officers.

Jibrin said: “Speaker Dogara has threatened legal action against me. That is quite predicable.

“I know he will rush to court in order to invoke the House rules that a matter in Court cannot be heard on the floor.

“He failed to realise that the law is not intended to protect corrupt people.

“It is such a shame. I have responded to their allegations; rather than respond to mine, he is rushing to court.

“I stand by my allegations and will not withdraw them.

“I am happy to announce that my lawyers have officially approached the EFCC and the ICPC to work out a date for me to personally submit my petition against Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun Chief Whip Alhassan Doguwa and Minority leader, Leo Ogor.

“I believe once a date is agreed with the anti-corruption agencies we would have begun the process of making these characters pay for abusing their offices. (NAN)