A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Femi Falana, has written to the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, demanding an immediate discontinuation of the house’s investigation of Abdulmumin Jibrin.
Falana said the probe was an attempt to suspend Jibrin, despite an ongoing court case against such move.
Jibrin, a member of the house from Kano, is accused of misconduct after he accused Dogara and other leaders of budget fraud. The house has not investigated the alleged corruption.
Rather, it mandated the Ethics and Privileges Committee to probe claims by some members that Jibrin damaged their reputation by making public allegations, and not following internal channels.
The committee opened sitting Friday, but Jibrin is billed to appear on Monday.
Falana, who is Jibrin’s lawyer, said in his letter that Dogara should disband the committee because its constitution contravened the house rules.
Citing order 9 rule 5 of the House, he said Mr. Dogara lacked the powers to constitute a panel over a matter that was before a court.
Falana said Jibrin had filed an action before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court with suit No.: FHC/ABJ/CS/50/5/2016 between Mr. Jibrin and the House of Representatives and 13 others.
Falana said Dogara was represented in the suit by his lawyer, Ikechukwu Obiora & Co. and threatened to commence contempt of court proceedings against the speaker if the investigation of Jibrin continued.
In a separate statement Friday, Jibrin said he would ensure the Dogara did not escape the unfolding budget padding scandal unscathed, saying his “day of reckoning is so close”.
“There is nothing you can do on earth to stop it. No amount of lobbying, legislative antics or blackmail of members of the House, Senate, executive arm or individuals outside the House can help you and your cabal of few corrupt members. Mr Speaker, this struggle is like the rising sun, it is unstoppable,” Jibrin said in the statement.
On Friday, the ethics committee, headed by Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta), heard testimony from Emmanuel Oker-Jev, a lawmaker who moved the motion for Jibrin’s censure and suspension on Wednesday.
Oker-Jev tendered evidence of how Jibrin allegedly rubbished the integrity of the House through his widespread dissemination of internal House documents against the leadership of the House.
Jibrin raised questions about the impartiality of the committee in another statement to Ossai Friday.
“You did not state what I did that amounted to misconduct so (that) even if I intend to attend, I can know what exactly I am being accused of and come prepared. This is clear indication that the outcome of your “investigation” is already predetermined,” Jibrin said.
He scolded Ossai for prioritising disciplinary actions against him rather than address the allegations in his own petition against Dogara.
The letter by Falana came after Jibrin had assured that he would appear before Ossai’s committee, if its hearing was made public.
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