DEFIANT JIBRIN : I won't appear before the house committee on ethics unless hearing is held

A former Chairman of the House Committee
on Appropriation, 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.
Mr. 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.
Mr. Jibrin further said that internal
investigation of the matter would imply
making the Speaker 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 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.
(NAN)



Source :naijaloaded
Edited by DANIEL IKECHUKWU EKWUNIFE