Jibrin while addressing journalists in his office in Abuja yesterday, said decided not to appear before the Ethics and Privilege Committee because he had wanted the assurances of the chairman of the Committee, Ossai Nicholas Ossai, in writing that the investigation was going to be conducted in the public place where the media and civil society organisations would be present.
He said: “Of course you are aware the House deliberated the matter even though we faulted the process but referred the matter to the Committee of Ethics and Privileges. Now there has been a bite of misconception and I want to clarify the issues.
“Ahead of the resumption of the House I wrote a 17 page letter to all members of the House and one of the issues is that I was finding it difficult to refer or write to the Committee on Ethics because I do not believe that it has the ability of being impartial.
“Of course it is in the public glare, he has made a lot of public statements that shows clearly that he has become an interested party in the matter. I cited the instance where clearly he made public statements that budget fraud also known as padding is not an offence.
“There are instances he mentioned me as a person. Right from the beginning I have my doubt. After the House referred the matter to Ethics Committee, he called me, and I had a conversation with him, I told him that I will appear on the condition the proceedings is made public and I was explicitly clear to him that the media should be there.
The embattled lawmaker admitted that he refrained from appearing before the committee because he had no confidence in the integrity of its members, insisting that many of them had already expressed their support for the speaker on the floor by wearing the “#I Stand with Dogara” muffler.
Is this guy really a member of the house of Representative... if the house in deliberations cant put this guy where he belongs then there's no need having a legislative arm of government. The seed you will sow now will surely affect the decisions in the legislative arm.. How can issue concerning the green chamber be suggested by a member to be deliberated out side the house rules.. Wonders shall never end in Nigeria..
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