Why I was removed as Appropriation C’ttee Chair, by Rep Jibrin

Speaker Dogara  and Jibrin
ABUJA—THE recently sacked Chairman of Appropriations Committee in the

House of Representatives, Abdulmumuni Jibrin, has said that his refusal to
support immunity for presiding officers as well refusal to approve the N40
billion for principal officers out of N100 billion approved for members of
the House for constituency projects led to his removal.
In a statement yesterday after the House had adjourned for its annual vacation,
Jibrin told the Speaker, Dogara, his deputy, Yussuff Lasun, the Minority
Leader, Leo Ogor and the Chief Whip, AlHassan Doguwa to resign for their
alleged role in the budget padding.
His assertions were immediately dismissed by the House which through
Spokesman, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas accused him of resorting to cheap
blackmail, asking why he did not as a man of principle, make his
disclosure before his removal. Namdas said that Jibrin was removed by
the body of principal officers in exercise of the powers conferred on it by
the House rules.
Jibrin was at the centre of allegations by House members during the 2016
budget exercise when it was alleged that the N60 billion earmarked for the
Calabar – Lagos rail project was diverted to other projects leading to calls
for his sack.
Following his removal on Wednesday, Jibrin yesterday said he was
removed because he withdrew support from the proposal to grant
immunity to presiding officers of the National Assembly and his refusal to
channel N40 billion of the N100 billion meant for constituency funds for
members to the House leadership.
“I am a very blunt person by nature. I don’t know how to pretend. I don’t
do eye service neither will I ever be a sycophant. I don’t give returns. I
just do my job dedicatedly. My offence was asserting my independence
and insisting we do the right thing at all times and expose corrupt people
in the house.
“Lately, I openly disagreed with some principal officers on the issue of
immunity and budget issues. I still maintain I will never support
immunity."
But in his response, Namdas said: “Most of the allegations on the 2016
budget process and his opposition to immunity of presiding officers are
non issues and mere after thought manufactured simply because the
House relieved him of his position.
“If he had all these ‘facts’ before, why didnt he make them public? Why is
he doing that now?"
“Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, like any other member of the House knows that
there are conventions and precedents as it relates to budgets and projects
for principal officers of the National Assembly. Why is he making it an
issue now? In any case, he is entitled to his opinion as a Nigerian and as
a legislator while acting within the laws ol Nigeria and rules of the House.
“We must make it abundantly clear that he was not removed because of
his support or otherwise on immunity bill. Afterall he is not the only one
who opposed the bill.”