Speaker Yakubu Dogara

Honourable Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of House of Representatives told journalists at Aso Rock presidential villa on Friday that he will not resign over allegations of padding of the 2016 budget leveled against him by the sacked Chairman of House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumini Jibrin.

Jibrin had also accused four other principal officers of the House of being part of the padding the budget.

The former Chairman of House Committee on Appropriation had also submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC demanding the investigations of the padding allegations.

Reports also indicated the Police is also investigating the allegations.

There have been calls for resignation of Dogara and other principal officers from Nigerians and some civil society groups over the allegations.

Some Nigerians have also called for the reconvening of the House of Representatives which is currently on recess for the purpose of discussing and taking action on the allegations of budget padding.

But speaking to reporters after a 30 minute meeting with President Mohammed Buhari on Friday, the Speaker said he will not resign.

He added that he is not at all worried over the allegations.

The Speaker told the reporters that as a lawyer and member of the House, there was no offence known as padding to him and the law.

“What is padding? You haven’t told me. Ask Jibrin what is padding? For me, I studied Law and I have been in the legislature and all this period I have never heard of the word “padding” being an offence under any law. If I don’t know, you are the media, research the law and let me know,” the Speaker queried in response to persistent questions from reporters.

He also said only the Chairman of Ethics Committee of the House can decide if Jibrin would be punished over the stream of allegations or if there is need to reconvene the House to address the controversies.