The House of Representatives has suspended the former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin for 180 Legislative days following the consideration and adoption of a report by its Committee on Ethics and Privileges on Wednesday, 28thSeptember 2015. It would be recalled that the aforementioned Committee was mandated to investigate a breach of privilege after Hon. Orker-Jev Emmanuel Yisa (APC:Benue) prayed the House to investigate Hon. Jibrin who had leveled severe allegations of the padding of the 2016 Budget by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa ,Minority leader, Leo Ogor and some other members of the House of representatives while the House was on its annual recess. Chairman on Ethics and Privileges, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP: Delta) presented the report.
Speaking on the report, the Chairman noted that on receiving the notice of referral by the House, it immediately issued invitations to Hon. Orker-Jev Emmanuel Yisa, Hon. Jibrin, the media and the general public to attend an open investigative hearing of the Committee on the matter. In addition, it convoked 2 investigative hearing sessions where it obtained submissions and testimonies and carried out cross-examinations of witnesses. According to the Chairman, Hon. Orker-Jev’s testimony to the Committee stated that he was imbued to raise the matter as a result of his conviction that his personal privileges were breached. Hon. Orker-Jevalso mentioned that his position as the House Chairman on Rules and Business in addition to the calls and representations he received from members of the public who denigrated the House as public institutions also influenced his decision.
However, the Chairman noted that Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin was absent during the Committee’s hearing despite confirming his letter of invitation in writing and despite the availability of both print and electronic media, which he had ironically stipulated as a condition to his attendance. In addition, the report noted that it had complied with section 36 of the 1999 Constitution that guarantees fair hearing.
Moving to its findings from the said investigations, the Chairman noted that Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin had made statements in print and electronic media that were broad sweeping without proof and viewed the statements as injurious, scandalous and denigrating to the House of Representatives as an institution. He added that the Committee also held the view that the statements taken- individually and collectively-served to bring down the image of the members of the House of Representatives in the estimation of members of the public and amounted to an infraction of section 21 and 24 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and the Rules of the House. Furthermore, it found that Hon. Abdulmumin breached the practices, precedents and usages of the House of Representatives by failing to follow its established procedure for expressing and redressing grievances and failing by himself, his privy, proxy or witness to provide any evidence.
Consequently, the Committee made the following recommendations, which the House adopted unanimously:
- To reprimand Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin in accordance with Chapter 9 (1) of the Code of Conduct for Members of the House of Representatives.
- To suspend Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin for 180 Legislative sitting days in the First Instance by
Further regulating its procedure as provided in Order Six, Rule 1 (4) of the Standing Orders and Chapter 9 (2) of the Code of Conduct for Members of the House
- That Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin tenders a formal written apology to the House as a condition to resuming future duties in the House.
- That Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin should be barred from positions of responsibility in the House until the end of the 8th Assembly in accordance with Chapter 9 (3) of the Code of Conduct for members of the House.
