Jibrin's allegations destroyed the integrity of the National Assembly – Speaker says

Jibrin, the former Chairman of the House appropriation committee, accused Dogara of illegally inflating the 2016 budget.

Dogara said that the truth surrounding the alleged budget padding will come out at the appropriate time.

He said “Shortly after we adjourned for the recess, the erstwhile Chairman, Appropriations Committee, embarked on strange propaganda clearly aimed not only at the destruction of the image of some members.

“It was also a systematic destruction of the institution of the House of Representatives and indeed, the legislature, by portraying it to the public as an irredeemably corrupt institution.

“The motivation for his actions, as he has said repeatedly, is to have the four principal officers removed from their positions and not that the truth should be known.

“These wild allegations which were initially directed at four members of the House leadership progressively engulfed the entire membership of the House and then, the institution.”

Adding that “I have bad news for those who think they can pull down this institution of the people.

“If history is any guide, no one, in a democracy has ever succeeded in destroying a democratic institution such as the House of Representatives.’’

Abdulmumin Jibrin, has said he will not appear before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges except the hearing is made public.