Jibrin risks suspension over budget padding allegations against Dogara, others

The legislative activity on the floor of the House of Representatives was rowdy on Wednesday as lawmakers converged to deliberate on the budget padding scandal and corruption allegations levelled against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and some principal officers.
Dogara in his earlier welcome address had decried the allegations levelled against him and other principal officers as ‘criminal in nature’ acknowledging that they “remain accountable to Nigerians for their conduct as public servants.”
He however noted that “there are constitutional avenues to address allegations made against individual Honourable Members, many of which are criminal in nature.
“This is more so that these matters are before all the security agencies and ridiculously before some Foreign Missions!
It is however important to briefly say that nothing warrants the deliberate attempt at destructive public misinformation aimed at discrediting the House as an institution.
“These events have shown that we certainly need to engage more with the Nigerian public on the functions and modus operandi of the National Assembly, which is a democratic institution that relies on public support for its activities.
“I am sure we will emerge from all these stronger and more committed to attainment of national goals than before,” Dogara posited.
Trouble however started when Emmanuel Orker-Jev, chairman House Committee on Rules and Business, raised a point of order citing Order 6(1) of the House Rules, and the need to probe the actions of Jibrin.
Orker-Jev who accused Jibrin of breaching practices, precedents and usages of the House of Representatives sundry Acts of misconduct against the members and Institution of the House of Representatives and National Assembly as well as the provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, Cap. L12, LFN, argued that the punishment is six month suspension.
The lawmaker who accused Jibrin of spare-heading campaign of calumny, denigration, argued that the allegations as disseminated by the via print and electronic media and social media are false and scandalous and contemptuous of the House of Representatives as an institution.
He also argued that Jibrin’s allegations as libelous and defamatory of the members and the institution, maintained that the “statements and publications are contrary to sections 24 and 30 of the Legislative (Powers and Privileges) Act. They are breach of the standing Orders of the House of Representatives, particularly the provisions on privileges of the House and that of members thereof touching or seizing the Mace Order 10 Rule 5(13 and 15),” which attracts 6 months suspension.
Following the adoption of the motion, Dogara referred it to the House Committee on Appropriations this and Privileges chaired by Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta) for proper investigation and to report is findings and make appropriate recommendations to the House within one week.
Raising a counter Point of Order, Ali Madaki (APC-Kano) argued that it was immoral for the Speaker preside over the plenary session considering the “damning allegations” leveled against him.
Madaki who called for external investigation into allegations involving the Speaker and other principal officers as well as members of the House, argued that those affected should resign from office to pave way for unfettered investigation.
While responding, Dogara noted that since Madaki acknowledged that he was involved in the allegation, he should resign first and hand over his resignation letter to him.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of youths under the aegis of Coalition in Defence of Democracy (CDD) staged peaceful protest demanding the immediate suspension of Jibrin.
Some of the placards read: “We demand the indefinite suspension and prosecution of Hon Jibrin for contempt of the House, operating of foreign account, scandalising the House, contract splitting, money laundering and living above his means”; “EFCC – prosecute Jibrin for operating £1.37 million pounds foreign account – Africa media;” “Hon Jibrin is a professional blackmailer;” “Coalition in defence of democracy wants Reps to suspend Hon Jibrin for his failed plot to destroy the legislature;” “Coalition of civil society group wants National Assembly and Attorney General to suspend and prosecute Jibrin for blackmail, contempt of the House operating foreign account, contract splitting, and IL -gotten wealth.”
Ikenga Ugochinyere, convener of the group, disclosed that they already approached the Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to prosecute the lawmaker for allegedly maintaining a foreign account in the United kingdom (UK), and also his admission of illegally receiving N650 million in the House of Representatives.
Ugochinyere said: “this dastard plot to destabilize the parliament is real. It aims at discrediting the parliament to enable them force a leadership change to suit the whims and caprices of those external forces who could not win on the floor of the parliament who are now using Jibrin to continue a battle they were roundly defeated.
“Despite knowing the powers of the legislature in appropriation as provided in section 59, 81, 82 of the constitution, Jibrin has obliged himself to negative democratic influences who are willing to go the extra mile to derail democracy. This must be condemned in its entirety.”