House Of Rep Speaker Yakubu Dogara Accused of Splashing N66 Million On Chartered Aircraft

 

According to the Nation, House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara has been accused of lavishing a sum of N66 million on a chartered plane from Abuja to Delta state to attend the inauguration of a church. The allegation is currently shaking the stand of the speaker and it has yielded mixed reactions from the House of Representative members. His aides and associates have denied the allegations which they believe is being spread by saboteurs to tarnish the reputation of Dogara.

 

According to his associates, about N3.9million was spent on an 80-minute return trip from Abuja to Delta State. The money was Dogara's personal cash and not that of the National Assembly. Dogara made the choice of a chartered aircraft and ignoring the aircrafts in the presidential fleet because the tip was personal and non-governmental.

 

Some House members are claiming that such “a tasty lifestyle” is not in line with Dogara’s “Legislative Agenda”. Some lawmakers queried  the sources of funding such trips since the movement of the Speaker is bankrolled by the National Assembly.

A member of the House, who spoke in confidence, said: “The chartered aircraft palaver is being circulated among House members because of the alleged N66 million cost. We do not know whether the amount was real or imaginary. But it remains in the realm of allegation.

“The challenge is that he who comes to equity must do so with clean hands. With the robust Legislative Agenda put in place by Dogara, this is no time for such a luxury. The same House of Representatives joined issues with the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources on the charter of a Bombardier aircraft.

“Dogara needs to explain to members what really transpired. No APC member is expected to indulge in this type of luxury because the party came into office with an austere agenda.”

Yabuku Dogara is currently disturbed by the allegations as the issue is spreading among the members of the house despite the holidays being observed by the House.

Dogara’s aide said: “I am under instruction not to comment because it appears that those behind the allegation of N66million have another motive.

“As at the time the Speaker made the trip to Delta State, there was no commercial flight at all.

“It became necessary for him to use a chartered aircraft. The cost of the service was only N3.9million for a 40-minute flight to and from Delta State. Altogether, it was 80 minutes. And the aircraft only dropped the Speaker and returned to pick him and his entourage after his church assignment. Let me also clarify that the Speaker does not own a private jet.”
 

More issues are bound to emanate from the allegations of Dogara's luxurious lifestyle when the House resumes after the muslim break.