TheCable

The house of representatives committee on ethics and privileges has concluded its probe into the alleged breach of lawmakers’ privileges by Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman on appropriations.

Jibrin had accused Yakubu Dogara, the speaker, and four other principal officers of padding the 2016 budget.

On Wednesday, Emmanuel Oker-Jev, chairman on rules and business, had moved a motion that lawmakers’ privileges were breached as a result of the allegations Jibrin levelled against his colleagues.

According to the motion, which was passed and referred to the ethics and privileges committee amidst a rowdy session, Jibrin could be suspended for six months if found guilty.

On Sunday, jirin said he was not going to appear before the committee because the chairman had made a lot of public statements and granted an interview to a newspaper where he said there was nothing like padding.

“That is the person that would pass judgement on me; many members of this committee were part of those putting on mufflers in the chamber,” he said.

But in his remarks on Monday, Ossai Ossai, chairman of the ethics committee, explained that based on Section 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended, Jibrin was given a fair hearing.

“His decision not to appear is a defence on its own, most especially in the letter he wrote indicating he would not appear,” Ossai said.

“Based on Section 36 of the 1999 constitution, we have given him fair hearing. We have exhausted the time and other material needs since last week to ensure there was fair hearing.

“On this ground, the proceeding of the committee has come to an end. If anything will make me to be biased, I will step aside for my deputy to continue; that is good enough to assuage anybody to appear.

“He had requested that he would appear under the condition that the process would be public and should be witnessed by the media, civil society organisations and the human right groups. By all indications, we have met the requirements.

“That committee was constituted by the House upon inauguration in June 2015 without knowledge of who will appear before it. It is not about Dogara; it is about the institution.”

Following the motion that was passed on Wednesday, the ethics committee is expected to complete its investigation and submit its recommendations to the house within a week.

It is expected that once the committee submits its report and recommendations to the house in plenary, Jibrin’s fate will be known.