Lawmaker denies fleeing Nigeria to avoid arrest

Jibrin earlier said that he left the country because his life was being threatened but his claim was dismissed by colleague, Herman Hembe who alleged that Jibrin had fled because the anti-corruption agencies were about to arrest him.

The embattled lawmaker made the denial via a statement. It reads:

“My attention has been drawn to series of media reports that I fled Nigeria for the fear that the EFCC is closing on me. This is far from the truth and an extension of the wicked propaganda and blackmail lunched against me by Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other corrupt members of the House of Representatives who are angry and jittery over the allegations of budget fraud and corruption I leveled against them and their impending arrest and prosecution.

“The fact of the matter is that I traveled out of the country freely like every responsible citizen and through the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja on Friday 4th November 2016.

“The purpose of my trip is to receive an award in recognition of my modest effort in exposing corruption in the House of Representatives by the African Voice Newspaper London and embark upon an extensive international campaign to mobilize foreign governments, parliaments, media, civil society and anti-corruption groups and Nigerians in diaspora to join the call for the arrest and prosecution of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, Whip Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor on the strength of the allegations and overwhelming evidence against them.

I have stated repeatedly that I have engaged the security and anti-corruption agencies severally over the petitions I submitted and provided them with evidential documents and vital clues and we have constantly kept in tough. I have also pledged to stand as witness against the Speaker and others. I have nothing to fear. If for any reason my attention is needed, I will make myself available.

My constraint has always been the threat to my life which I have raised alarm severally that the House cabal led by Speaker Yakubu Dogara are using Hon. Herma Hembe to either assassinate or kidnap me or members of my family. Hon Hembe has been stalking me.

“I have been worried and written to the security agencies but none of these people have been questioned. In fact at some point, they tried to use some elements in one of the security agencies to abduct me. All these were reported by my lawyers.

“It is against this background that I took the decision to stay away from the country until my safety is guaranteed. However ever, I will be available once my attention is required in respect of my petition against the Speaker and others or any petition that may come against me.

“I am therefore urging the media to endeavor to cross check information before they publish so that the public will always be fed with the facts of the matter.”

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Jibrin has been at the centre of controversy since July when he accused Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of padding the 2016 budget.

He was suspended from the House in September.