Budget Padding: Hon. Jibrin Insists He Will Not Appear Before Ethics Committee; Urges Senate to Take Over Functions of National Assembly Until the Case is Resolved | WATCH

Former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has insisted that the will not appear before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

The Committee had on Friday, invited him for an investigative hearing over the allegations of budget padding he leveled against the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, and other Principal Officers.

Jibrin had earlier said that he will not appear before the committee. He said:

The House belongs to Nigerians, not the 360 members! Despite all these and 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 proceedings will be public and the Ethics committee 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 and outcome will not be manipulated or compromised. I am ready to appear before the committee even today if the proceedings will be public.

Jibrin called on the Senate to pass a resolution which will empower it to discharge the functions of the National Assembly until the House of Representatives transparently addresses the allegations of budget padding leveled against Dogara and some members of the House.

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