Yakubu Dogara Dares Jibrin to Petition the EFCC, ICPC

Yakubu Dogara Dares Jibrin to Petition the EFCC, ICPC

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has challenged the former Chairman, Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, to present a petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) with evidence about his allegation that 2016 budget was padded by the leadership of the national Assembly.

Speaking through the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas, Yakubu Dogara said the media campaign by Jubrin serves no purpose other than to smear the image of the legislature. Namdas then vowed that disciplinary actions would be taken against Jibrin for accusing the Speaker of corruption.

“We will deal with him appropriately in line with the relevant rules of the House.

“The rule of the House is not to engage in media campaign against its leadership. He has the option of writing a petition to the House, attached with his evidence, when we resume in September.

“Alternatively, let him write to the EFCC or ICPC for investigation. These agencies have powers to arrest and prosecute. These options are available and he should stop running down the House.”

According to the Punch newspaper, a staff of the National  Assembly stated that:  “He (Jibrin) breached the rules and procedure of the House. He knows that what he has done is not the right approach.

“He is also passing the message that if a committee chairman is failing in discharging his responsibilities, the leadership should not remove him. We are aware of the crisis that was around the 2016 budget.

“This former chairman was largely responsible and the leadership even tried to save his seat against the demand of the majority of members that he should be removed. To have embarked on a media campaign against the leadership because he was relieved of his position is quite unfortunate.”

Namdas added, “we don’t want to keep arguing with Jibrin on the pages of newspapers or join issues with him. If we continue this way, we are only helping him to get the relevance that he needs. He is seeking public sympathy by throwing up unsubstantiated allegations.

“This is like saying if Mr. President should fire a minister for not doing his job properly, the next thing is for that minister to say it was because the President requested this or that and he objected to the request. Meanwhile, it was clear to all that you didn’t do your job. You begin to tell lies.

“We are on recess, and if we keep talking till tomorrow, nothing can be done until we resume in September.”

Yakubu Dogara had sacked Jibrin on Wednesday over alleged non-performance as a committee chairman. He immediately named Mr. Mustapha Bala-Dawaki from Kano State as his (Jibrin’s) replacement.

But a day after, Jibrin alleged that he was removed for rejecting a request by Dogara, his Deputy, Mr. Yussuff Lasun, the House Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, and the Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, to include projects worth N40bn in the 2016 budget for them.

He also claimed that he was singled out for punishment for opposing the plan to grant immunity to presiding officers of the national assembly.