Dashed Expectations Of Sanction As House Of Reps Refers Budget Padding Whistle Blower Abdulmumin Jibrin To Ethics Committee For Further Investigation

Emerging details have it

The House of Representatives on Wednesday referred the allegations contained in budget padding petition by one of its members from Kano, Abdulmumin Jibrin, to its Ethics and Privileges Committee.

The move consequently dashed widespread expectations that the House would move to sanction Mr. Jibrin, who had been stirring the budget padding scandal since he was removed as chairman of the Appropriation Committee in July.
At the resumed sitting Wednesday morning, Emmanuel Oker-Jev, House Rules and Business Chairman, moved a motion for the House to address alleged breach of House ethics by Mr. Jibrin.

Subsequently, Speaker Yakubu Dogara suggested that Mr. Oker-Jev’s motion be referred to House Ethics and Privileges Committee for further investigation.

But another lawmaker from Kano, Aliyu Madaki, expressed reservations about the motion and submitted that the entire House should resign in the wake of the scandal.

Mr. Madaki said all representatives have been indicted by Mr. Jibrin in his scathing allegations.

Mr. Madaki’s interjection was in turn interrupted by lawmakers loyal to Mr. Dogara, who chanted “Dogara! Dogara! Dogara!”

Throughout the deliberations, Mr. Jibrin kept his cool but later walked out, also without raising any issues.

The House has since continued with its deliberations on other matters.

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