The House of Representatives on Wednesday suspended embattled former House Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin over budget Padding.
The suspension followed allegations he leveled against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and some principal officers of the House, culminating in hid suspension for 180 legislative days.
This followed the conclusion of investigation by the Committee on Ethics over alleged breach of Privileges of members and misconduct by Jibrin.
The House sits for 181 legislative days in a year. The 180 legislative days suspension translates to one full legislative year as the House sits for 181 legislative days.
This implies that Hon. Jibrin cannot participate in any legislative activity till September 2017.
The committee also recommended that the Kano-born lawmaker be barred from holding any leadership position for the rest of the 8th Assembly.
It will be recalled that Hon. Jibrin following his resignation as chairman of the appropriation committee, embarked on a media campaign alleging budget fraud as well as other corrupt practices against some principal officers.
He also labelled the institution of the House corrupt adding that the entire membership of the House is corrupt.
He claimed that he had proof to back up the allegation which he is yet to make available.
The recommendations read thus;
5.01.”To reprimand Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin in accordance with chapter 9(1) of the code of conduct for members of the House of Representatives.
5.02. “That as provided in Order Six, Ruleb1(4)of the standing Orders, and chapter 9(2) of the Code of Conduct for members of the House, the House by this resolution further regulates it’s procedure and accordingly suspends Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin for 180 legislative sitting days in the first instance.
5.03. “That further to paragraph 5.02 above, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin is required to tender a formal written apology to the house, prior to his future resumption of duties in the House.
5.04. That in accordance with Chapter 9(3) of the Code of Conduct for members of the House, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin should be barred from positions of responsibility in the House until the end of the 8th Assembly”.
Chairman of the ethics committee, Ossai Nicholas Ossai while addressing the House, revealed that based on the evidence before the committee, it was discovered that Jibrin made the various statements attributed to him in the motion referred to the committee.
Ossai added that “those statements were broad sweeping without proof; consequently the committee views those statements as injurious, scandalous and denigrating to the house ad an institution”.
Those statements taken individually and collectively according to the committee, “serves to bring down the image of the generality of members of the House in the estimation of members of the public, thereby subjecting the House to public opprobrium”.
The Chairman, Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Orker-jev on the day of resumption, raised a motion accusing Jibrin of breach of the Privileges of members of the House; breach of the practices, precedence and usages of the House of Representatives and sundry acts of misconduct against the members and institution of the House and national assembly; breach of provisions of the Legislative houses (powers and Privileges) Act, Cap. L12,LFN.
Jibrin who refused to appear before the committee citing bias and impartiality of members, on Wed, maintained that his suspension will be illegal so long as the committee lacked the powers to investigate him as the matter was a subject of litigation.
