Jibrin fights back, asks Dogara, Lasun, to resign

The former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has asked Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his deputy, Yussuf Suleimon Lasun, to resign.

Jibrin also asked Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, to quit their positions, alleging that they have perpetrated fraud in the 2016 budget.

Jibrin was removed on Wednesday following months of protests by his colleagues over his role in the controversy that trailed the budget. He reportedly allocated projects worth N4.3 billion to his Kiru/ Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State and allegedly tempered with the reports of many of the House committees on the budget.

Although Jibrin said he resigned on his own volition, details emerged that he was forced out.

But the House, through its spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa), dismissed Jibrin’s allegations, describing them as “wild.”

Jibrin said in a statement yesterday: “Lately I openly disagreed with some principal officers on the issue of immunity for lawmakers and budget issues. I still maintained I will never support immunity.”

He said considering what transpired during 2016 budget, which he has all the facts documented, Speaker Dogara, Deputy Speaker Lasun, Whip Doguwa and minority Leader Leo Ogor should resign.

“These members of the body of principal officers were not comfortable with my independent disposition and my refusal to cover up their unilateral decision to allocate to themselves 40 billion naira out of the 100 billion allocated to the entire National Assembly.

“The four of them met and took that decision. In addition to billions of wasteful projects running over 20 billion they allocated to their constituencies. They must come out clean.”

In his reaction, Namdas said: “We wish to say that it is the prerogative of the Selection Committee of the House to appoint and remove Committee Chairmen.That power has been so exercised in the case of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin as chairman of Appropriation Committee.

“Most of the allegations on the 2016 budget process and his opposition to immunity of Presiding officers are non issues and mere afterthought manufactured simply because the House relieved him of his position.”