A defiant speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara told reporters after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday at the Presidential Villa that he will not resign over allegation of fraudulent budget padding.
Dogara interestingly said that with his experience as a lawyer and a federal lawmaker of many years, he has never heard padding as being an offence under the law – very funny. He needs to be lectured that when there is a fraudulent intention, as alleged in his case by house member Jibrin, then there may be criminal liability.
He also ruled out the possibility of reconvening the House before the September scheduled resumption time over the matter, saying the House of Representatives is not a mock institution. It is viewed as a tactical move to avoid a stormy session that may cost him his position as speaker.
Dogara boasted that he is not worried by the allegations leveled against him. He refused to state whether the House will sanction Jibrin, saying smugly that he is not the Chairman of the House Ethics Committee.
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