Budget padding: Jibrin to appear before House over petitions, absenteeism

Suspended member of the House of Representatives and former chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, got a reprieve Wednesday as he was granted leave to come into the National Assembly complex and defend himself before the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

The reprieve came as a result of a motion by chairman of the committee on Ethics and Privileges, Rep. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, who disclosed that his committee was in receipt of two petitions against Jibrin.

“The committee on Ethics and Privileges has commenced investigations into the petitions and seeks the indulgence of the House to invite Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin on grounds of fair hearing, to be allowed into the precincts of the House for the purpose of the defending the allegations contained in the petition,” Ossai said.

According to him, the committee received petitions against Jibrin bordering on his absenteeism and poor representation of his constituency of Kiru/Bebeji in Kano state and operation of foreign accounts which was in violation of the 1999 constitution.

The motion was however countered by Hon. Aliyu Madaki who noted that the motion and it’s consideration was unnecessary as Jibrin was under suspension from the House.

“Jibrin is not my friend but let us do the right thing. He has been suspended for one year, why are we considering this then. Let the court case take its course,” Madaki said.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara ruled him out of order saying the matter in court had nothing to do with the petitions against the suspended lawmaker.

“We don’t know of any case in court as regards operating of foreign accounts or absenteeism, but this is in line with fairing hearing and I think that is why the motion is here”, Dogara stated.

It will be recalled that Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin was suspended for 180 legislative days on September 24 over alleged breach of privileges of members of the House following budget padding allegations he made against the Speaker as well as some principal officers amongst others.