A former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Rep.
Abdulmumin Jibrin, has said that he will not appear before the House
Committee on Ethics and Privileges except if the hearing will be public.
This is contained in a statement he issued on Wednesday after the House
resolved to investigate him over his allegations against four principal
officers of padding the 2016 budget.
Jibrin said that referring the matter to the House Committee on Ethics
and Privileges was a plot to dilute the ongoing external investigation
by anti-graft agencies.
“The grand plan is to dilute the ongoing external investigation by the
police and EFCC and use the Ethics Committee for a soft landing.
“I have said repeatedly, I stand by my allegations and will continue
this struggle to expose the 2016 budget fraud and corruption in the
house even if I am alone,’’ he said.
Jibrin further said that internal investigation of the matter would
imply making the Speaker, Rep. Yakubu Dogara, a judge in the case.
“I completely disagree with this approach because it will mean that the
speaker is superintending over his investigation and that clearly makes
him a judge in his own case.
“The allegations I raised are too grievous to be reduced to such process open to manipulation and teleguiding.
“I will, therefore, continue to cooperate with the anti-graft agencies
which are already doing investigation on the matter and will also
proceed to build a massive coalition with Civil Society Organisations
and other well-meaning Nigerians.
“This is to ensure that this matter is not swept under the carpet.
“Since I can substantiate the allegations I raised with cogency, I will
take up the opportunity provided by the Ethics Committee to state my
case under the condition that the hearing will be public.
“And will allow the Press, CSOs, NGOs, NLC, ASUU, NANS, NBA and the general public to witness the entire proceedings.
“This is the only way that I can have the comfort and confidence that
the proceedings, the investigations and the outcome will not be
manipulated or compromised.
“I am ready to appear before the committee even today if the proceedings will be public,’’ he said.

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