Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin Risks 12-month Imprisonment as House of Reps Begins Probe

Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin

 

Speaking on Friday when he appeared before an ethics committee to tender evidence of reported statements where Jibrin accused the house of corruption, Emmanuel Oker-Jev, chairman, rules and business committee, of the House of Reps, disclosed that Abdulmumin Jibrin, might be given a 12-month prison sentence if found guilty of damaging the reputation of the house.

 

The lawmaker who cited section 21 (1) of the legislative powers act, said any member who publishes any document as evidence against any committee is guilty of contempt, adding that based on section 24 of the same legislative powers act, Jibrin was liable to 12 months in imprisonment or a fine.

 

According to The Cable News, he said he sponsored the motion against Jibrin because several members had approached him to tell him that they were offended by Jibrin’s allegations.

 

Recall that the embattled former chairman of the house of reps committee on appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin had accused Yakubu Dogara, the speaker, and four other principal officers of padding the 2016 budget, and also alleged that some members were not worthy of being called lawmakers.

 

“We are tired of members who only come to the chamber, lick Tom Tom, eat ground nuts and go back to their offices. I have to stop that.

“I want to see a situation where in 2019, if a Nigerian wakes up and says he wants to be a member of the house of representatives, he has to be someone that when he sits in that chamber and you are seated in your living room, you should be able to say I am proud that this is a member of the house of representatives,” he told AIT back in August.

 

The leadership of the house accused him of bringing dishonour to the lower chamber, and after a rowdy session on Wednesday, the ethics committee was mandated to probe allegations of misconduct against him.

 

At the end of the inaugural sitting of the committee investigating Jibrin, Nicholas Ossai, chairman of the ethics committee, announced that hearing will continue at 12 noon on Monday, and that Jibrin is expected to appear.