BREAKING: Jibrin suspended by House of Representatives
Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman of the Appropriation Committee, has been suspended by the Federal House of Representatives for 180 legislative days.
Premium Times reports that as the House of Reps seats three days in a week this subsequently means that his suspension would continue for more than a year.
Jibrin will also not be able to hold any position of responsibility for the span of the current National Assembly.
READ ALSO: Budget padding: 10 facts about Abdulmumin Jibrin
The lawmaker on July 21, a day after he was eased out as chairman of the powerful committee has sparked one of the biggest parliamentary scandals over budget padding.
He would be barred from the premises of the National Assembly in the course of the disciplinary action. The lawmaker would also not receive salaries or allowances.
Some supporters of Mr. Jibrin described his suspension as partisan, draconian and counterproductive.
A political expert, Gbola Oba, said: “This show of partisanship and support for Mr. Dogara is condemnable and too severe.”
He compared his fate to Dino Melaye who was suspended in 2010 for breach of members’ privilege.
“We knew they would gang up against him as they did against Mr. Melaye. This clearly shows that the House has failed to move beyond its counterproductive ways of suspending anyone who challenges the status quo.
READ ALSO: Budget padding saga: Jibrin reveals cocaine test result
“If the House were a serious body, serious attention would be given to Mr. Jibrin’s claim so as to foster a thriving democratic experiment within the country.”
Nigerians also react to the suspension:
The sacked committee chairman had in June accused Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun, Whip Alhassan Doguwa, Minority leader Leo Ogor and nine Committee Chairmen of padding the 2016 budget with fictitious projects running to over N284b.
He also claimed that most members of the House diverted N10b in running cost that was not part of their salaries over the years.
They have all denied the accusations as baseless and are considered to be pressing for sanction against him.
Source: Legit.ng
