The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, on Sunday called on the House of Representatives to discontinue the investigation of Abdulmumin Jibrin, a lawmaker from Kano who’s facing allegation of breach of House ethics and privilege.
The CNPP’s call was contained in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Willy Ezugwu.
Mr. Ezeugwu said the House should compel Speaker Yakubu Dogara to step down from office “rather than engaging in the persecution of the whistleblower.”
“For us, the probe of Mr. Jibrin by Ethics and Privileges Committee of the House, with an obvious predetermined script to suspend him, is nothing but a blackmail by the hunted hunting the hunter in a bid to cover up a gross allegation made by the lawmaker,” the CNPP said. “How can the war against corruption succeed when the principal leadership of the House of Representatives noticeably pays lip service to the anti-corruption drive by the Buhari government?”
“We, therefore, call on the Speaker to immediately disband his probe committee and submit themselves first to an independent investigative panel for open probe of the allegations against them. It is only then can any probe of Hon. Jibrin may be acceptable to well meaning Nigerians.
“If the House is truly concerned about its image, clearing the abuse of office and budget fraud allegation against its Speaker and other principal leaders should be more troubling to them at this time,” the CNPP said.
The group’s statement came hours after Mr. Jibrin addressed a press conference in which he also condemned his investigation and called on Mr. Dogara to step down from office.
Mr. Jibrin said the committee, headed by Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta), lacked requisite independence to carry out a bias investigation.
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