Politics
CNPP calls for cancellation of House probe, though hearing is made public as Jibrin demanded
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), has called on the House of Representatives to discontinue the investigation of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin for breaching of House ethics and privileges.
According to a statement from the group signed by its Secretary General Willy Ezugwu, the House should compel Speaker Yakubu Dogara to step down from office rather than persecute the whistleblower.
The statement. Which followed that of Jibrin’s lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), came shortly after the Kano lawmaker addressed a press conference in which he also condemned his investigation and called on Dogara to step down from office.
“How can the war against corruption succeed when the principal leadership of the House of Representatives noticeably pays lip service to the anti-corruption drive by the Buhari government?”
The CNPP believes if the House is truly concerned about its image, clearing the abuse of office and budget fraud allegation against its Speaker and other principal leaders should be more troubling to them.
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Mr. Jibrin said the ethics committee, headed by Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta), lacked independence to carry out a bias investigation.
“ Ossai has made several public statements acted in such a way and manner that his ability to the impartial in the matter is in doubt. In one of such statements, he told Premium Times that I’m wrong to say padding is an offense,” Jibrin said.
The embattled lawmaker had on September 21 said he would appear before Ossai’s committee if the chairman opens the sitting to the public.
“I will take up the opportunity provided by the Ethics Committee to state my case under the condition that the proceedings will be public and the Ethics Committee will allow the press, CSOs, NGOs, NLC, ASUU, NANS, NBA and the general public to witness the entire proceedings,” Jibrin said.
According to him, that is the only way he can have the comfort and confidence that the proceedings and outcome will not be manipulated or compromised.
However, the committee’s first sitting on Friday was opened to the public, and Jibrin still demand its cancellation.
Although Falana has written to the committee, Ossai, who denied knowledge of any letter, said the September 26 hearing will go on as scheduled.