LAGOS—The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has called on former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, to expose more alleged systemic corruption in the investigative hearings and oversight fucntion of the lower chamber in the interest of the public.

Jibrin, Monday, threatened to reveal more alleged “systemic corruption among the leadership of the House of Representatives, including in the House’s investigative hearings and oversight functions and disclose the internal budget of the House.”

SERAP in a statement released yesterday by Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said:  ‘’We encourage Mr Jibrin to tell Nigerians more about his allegations of systemic corruption in the House of Representatives. Mr Jibrin will be doing a positive act of ‘good citizenship’ by revealing how exactly the House is profiting from its investigative hearings and oversight functions and disclosing the House’s internal budget.

“Allegations of budget padding and fraud in the legislative functions threaten and harm the public interest, and may amount to crimes against humanity especially given the alleged systemic and widespread nature of the crimes in the House.

“We are seriously concerned that Mr Jibrin is not being appropriately treated or protected by the authorities to remedy the exposed threats or harm to him. No whistleblower should ever be penalised simply for making a public interest disclosure.

‘’SERAP strongly believes that every individual should feel safe to freely raise public interest concerns, just as Mr Jibrin has done in disclosing information on alleged budget padding and fraud in the House of Representatives.

“Unless the government of President Muhammadu Buhari grants Mr Jibin the appropriate protection deserving of a whistleblower, encourage him to disclose corruption in the House’s investigative and oversight functions, and promptly act on those allegations, a significant opportunity to protect the public interest would be missed.”