The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has rejected the move
by the House of Representatives to probe Hon. Abdulmumi Jibrin over his
efforts at exposing budget fraud in House, reiterating its call for
independent investigation into the allegations “rather than engaging in
the persecution of the whistleblower.”
The House Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the
House of Representatives were named in a budget padding and abuse of
office allegations by Hon. Jibrin.
The CNPP in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy
Ezugwu described Jibrin’s probe by the House Committee on Ethics and
Privileges as “a witch hunt and harassment of whistleblowers to the
detriment of the ongoing war against corruption by the President Muhammadu
Buhari administration”.
“The CNPP insists that the Speaker and the fingered principal officers of
the House must step aside until they are properly investigated as they
cannot be the Judge in their own case and yet lay claim to equity.
“For us, the probe of Hon. 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.
“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?
“Rather than embark on the probe, the House would have compelled the
Speaker and the principal officers named by Hon. Jibrin to submit
themselves to an independent probe panel comprising of relevant security
agencies and if cleared, they can sanction the lawmaker for false
allegation. Is this not what is most reasonable to do by the House?
“What is it that the Speaker and the principal officers are afraid of? Why
are they quick to probe the allegation by some members who claimed their
reputation has been damaged by Hon. Jibrin’s allegations, when the
allegations have not been investigated and found to be untrue? What is it
that the Speaker and his co-accused are struggling to hide from
Nigerians?”, the CNPP asked.
“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.