'Jibrin is bitter,' Reps react to allegation of N40bn fraud against Speaker

dimeji akinloye

July 22, 2016 3:14 AM

The spokesman said Jibrin accused Dogara because he was removed as the committee chairman, querying why he did not go public with the allegations before now.

House of Reps Speaker, Yakubu Dogara

The House of Representatives has faulted the

Following his removal on Wednesday, July 30, Jibrin on Thursday said he was removed becuase he did not yield to the request of the Speaker and three other principal members of the House "to allocate to themselves N40 billion out of the 100 billion allocated to the entire national assembly”.

But Abdulrazak Namdas, spokesman for the House said Jibrin accused the principal officers because he was removed as the committee chairman, querying why he did not come forward with the allegations before he was relieved of his duty.

“We wish to say that it is the prerogative of the Selection Committee of the House to appoint and remove Committee Chairmen. That power has been so exercised in the case of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin as chairman of Appropriation Committee,” Namdas said in a statement.

“If he had all these ‘facts’ before, why didn’t he make them public? Why is he doing that now?

“Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, like any other member of the House, knows that there are conventions and precedents as it relates to budgets and projects for principal officers of the National Assembly. Why is he making it an issue now? In any case, he is entitled to his opinion as a Nigerian and as a legislator while acting within the laws of Nigeria and rules of the House.

“We must make it abundantly clear that he was not removed because of his support or otherwise on immunity bill. After all, he is not the only one who opposed the bill.”

ALSO READ: Adamu, Hope Uzodinma, others lose portfolios in House of Rep

The spokesperson advised Jibrin to keep his personal issues to himself and not bother Nigerians and the House with it, as there are more important matters begging for attention in the country.

“The Nigerian people are simply not ready to waste their time on personal issues and personal egos of our leaders. We should face the urgent tasks before us for which we were elected," he said.

Dogara replaced Jibrin with Mustapha Dawaki Bala.

dimeji akinloye