Sacked chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on
Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, says he has instructed his lawyers to
file a suit against the Speaker and the House of Representatives over
his suspension from the house Wednesday September 28th.
Jibrin was suspended following his refusal to appear before the House
of Representatives Committee on Ethics and privileges to address the
allegations of budget padding he leveled against the Speaker and 13
other lawmakers. Speaking with journalists in Abuja after his
suspension, Jibrin said he fears for the life o those around him as he
is fighting a mafia’.
“What is very important also is that now they have done their worst,
they have suspended me, what has it changed? Has it changed the fact
that the speaker conspired with other principal officers to divert N40
billion out of N100 billion meant for constituency projects. Has it
changed the fact that he inserted fraudulent projects worth 20 billion?
Has it changed the fact that he diverted multi-million naira project to
his personal farm? Has it changed the fact that he tried to use the
running cost — money meant for running the offices of members — for a
questionable mortgage? Has it changed the fact that he diverted FGN
project to his farm. The most important thing is that Nigerians saw the
entire process, how the motion was passed and what transpired at the
level of the ethics committee and entirely the process was flawed and
for me it’s a non-issue and complete nonsense and it is not going to
stand anywhere in the world. As you are aware the matter is a subject of
litigation.
I have instructed my lawyer, Femi Falana SAN to file charges of contempt
against Speaker Dogara and of course the house of representatives and
I’m sure the matter will move over to the judiciary and decision will be
taken. I’m pretty sure it will be in my favour. At this point, I must
say they freed me up to concentrate on the matter in court; I know the
suspension is not going to stand. Secondly, I’m going into a massive
alliance with civil society groups, NGOs and well-meaning Nigerian to
continue to press ahead. I have said it, not once, not twice that it is
not going to be easy. I’m not worried about myself but I am more worried
about people around me. I think this is a big issue; I’m fighting a
group of mafia, and I know what they can do.
The battle I’m fighting is what Nigerians have always wanted to do in
the last 16 years when democracy came to bare, to open the house of
representatives and I’m determined to ensure that justice is served on
Speaker Dogara and the corrupt body of principal officers and beyond
that, reforms are implemented so we can have a house that Nigerians will
be proud of.”