The investigation into the petition against Abdulmumin Jibrin, the ousted chairman House Committee on Appropriations who accused Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of corruption and budget padding will commence today,.
Expected to appear before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges chaired by Nicholas Ossai is Emmanuel Orker-Jeff, chairman House Committee on Rules and Business who also accused Jibrin of breaching practices, precedents and usages of the House of Representatives sundry Acts of misconduct against the members and Institution of the House of Representatives and National Assembly as well as the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, Cap. L12, LFN, argued that the punishment is six month suspension.
BusinessDay however gathered all the Legislative Correspondents that will be allowed into the venue of the investigation will not be allowed to use video and still cameras as well as recorder throughout the session.
Recall that Jibrin had on Wednesday vowed that he will only appear before the Committee if the investigation will be public and will allow the Press, CSOs, NGOs, NLC, ASUU, NANS, NBA and the general public to witness the entire proceedings.
He also alleged that the “grand plan is to dilute the ongoing external investigation by the police and EFCC and use the Ethics Committee for a soft landing.”
Jibrin who vowed to sustain the call for justice, however noted that despite what he described as “legislative tricks and theatrics to save the day,” he posited that it “is just the end of another beginning.
“I have never lived with the illusion that this matter will be a sprint, knowing the deeply rooted corrupt interest of a few cabal in the House headed by Speaker Dogara.
“I have all the stamina and agility to go the marathon and ensure justice is served. I have said repeatedly I stand by my allegations and will continue this struggle to expose the 2016 budget fraud and corruption in the House even if I am alone.
“Many members of the House, including myself, completely disagree with this approach because it will mean that the Speaker is superintending over his investigation and that clearly makes him a judge in his own case.
“The allegations I raised are too grievous to be reduced to such process open to manipulation and teleguiding. I will therefore continue to cooperate with the anti-graft agencies who are already investigation the matter and will also proceed to build a massive coalition with Civil Society Organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that this matter is not swept under the carpet of the Green Chamber. The House of Representatives belongs to Nigerians not only the 360 members,” Jibrin said in a statement.
Speaking at a the weekly press briefing, Abdulrasak Namdas, chairman, House Committee on Media disclosed that the Committee is at liberty to decide the modalities for the exercise.
Namdas who noted that Jibrin cannot set agenda for the Committee, noted that the House will be guided by its Rules.
“The committee will decide the way to investigate this. It is not for Abdulmumin again to set agenda for this committee. I think the committee will come forward to tell you people what to do, but it is not for him to tell the committee how to run its affairs. At least, he’s not the chairman of the Ethics and Privileges Committee, he was the former Chairman of Appropriations. So, I think he should allow the Chairman of Ethics and Privileges to run his committee.”
On if the Speaker will be invited by the Ethics and Privileges Committee to answer the allegations leveled against him and other principal officers, he said: “If you people listen to the motion moved by Orker Jev, he said this investigation has to do with the institution of the House of Representatives, not the accused persons. Because the man has written petition against the individual persons and it is with police and agencies. But this committee is dealing with what affects the House of Representatives as an institution.
“If you say a person has done this, it’s a House work four people don’t make a budget. So, if we pad budget, It is the House. If the House is institutionally corrupt, it is the House. So, we are taking this allegation based on that. In other issues, he has already tabled a petition, we cannot stop other agencies from doing their work.”
While reacting to the development, Olufemi Adebanjo (APC-Lagos) argued that Jibrin will not get justice at the Ethics and Privileges Committee.
“Its not right to send the case to the Ethics and Privileges committee because the Speaker put the committee in place. Unfortunately for them some of the committee members were wearing the muffler with the inscription.
“I am with Dogara, so how can there be justice? It’s not possible. Its between Jibrin, Speaker and three others principal officers mainly. He who pays the piper dictates the tune. Let us be frank with one another, it’s not possible. Its just like coming to your house and fighting with you and members of your house are the panelists, I can’t get justice.”
In the spirit of equity and justice, he however observed that the investigation should have been conducted by external agency.
“I would have suggested that we have external investigators to come in, find out the truth and lay it bare. That would have been the best. Or for Speaker himself to step aside, have a neutral body take over, until we can conclude the issue. That would have been appropriate.
“All array of immaturity displayed yesterday, I was embarrassed. To the extent that members were wearing mufflers supporting Dogara,” adding that the crisis is above National Assembly and beyond Dogara. It concerns the whole Nigeria. The integrity of the National Assembly is at stake, the integrity of the country is at stake,” Adebanjo said.
