The former Chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has reacted to his suspension from the parliament for 180 legislative days.
The lawmaker had after his removal as chairman, Appropriations Committee, accused the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara; the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun; Whip, Alhassan Doguwa, and Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, alongside some committee chairmen of budget fraud.
His outburst did not go down well with some lawmakers, hence, the beginning of his problems.
In his reaction to the development, Jibrin said the entire process leading to his suspension was flawed and that as far as he was concerned, “it is a non-issue and complete nonsense and it is not going to stand anywhere in the world.
“As you are aware, the matter is a subject of litigation; I have instructed my lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, to file charges of contempt against Speaker Dogara and of course the House of Representatives and I’m sure the matter will move over to the judiciary and decision will be taken. I’m pretty sure it will be in my favour.”
Falana, who faulted Dogara over the suspension of Jibrin, said the suspension would not stand the test of time.
In a message sent to Punch via email, Falana said, “It is the height of contempt. It is a primitive resort to self-help by the House of Representatives. Since the matter is in court, the House deliberately breached its rule of not interfering with pending judicial proceedings.
“In his desperation to cover up the scandal, the Speaker, Honourable Dogara, made himself the accuser, witness, prosecutor and judge at the same time and thereby breached the elementary rule of nemo judex in causa sua (thou shall not be a judge in your own cause)
