The office of the suspended former chairman of the House of Representatives committee on appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has been sealed by the leadership.Jibrin was suspended on Wednesday after the ethics and privileges committee found him guilty of breach of members’ privileges and misconduct in the manner he carried out with his allegations of budget padding against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers. But yesterday, some members of the National Assembly security (sergeant- at-arms) sealed off his office, Room 1.05 located in the New Building wing of the House of Representatives.
New Telegraph gathered that before sealing the office, the Sergeant-at-arms in company with Jibrin’s aide took inventory of the documents and equipment in the office. Also, Jibrin’s staff moved out some of the personal belongings of the former chairman from the office. Meanwhile, chairman of the House committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas, has said the House had nothing to do with the court over Jibrin’s suspension.
Reacting to the declaration by Jibrin that he would challenge his suspension in court, the spokesman said based on the principle of separation of powers, the judiciary cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the legislature. He said Jibrin was free to go anywhere but the House had taken its decision to punish him for what he did in line with the provisions of its Standing Orders and Rules.
Meanwhile, the House yesterday ordered investigation into the alleged debt of about N500 billion owed the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company( PPMC) by major oil marketers. The decision was taken following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Agom Jarigbe, alleging that it was a sabotage by some of the oil marketers.
The companies include: Oando, Forte oil, NIPCO, Total oil, Conoil, Mobil oil, Masters Energy oil, and gas Ltd;, MRS oil and Gas and Heyden Petroleum. Others are Rahamaniyya Petroleum, Amicable Petroleum, Aiteo Petroleum, Honeywell oil, Capital Oil, Felande Petroleum, Sharon oil, and Zamson Petroleum. In adopting the motion, the House resolved to raise a special Ad hoc Committee to investigate the alleged “huge debts and criminal act of sabotage by oil marketers in connivance with the management of PPMC.”
Leading debate on the motion, Jarigbe called on the House to resist the act of criminality being perpetuated within the sub-sector. He said:”There is a connivance and compromise by functionaries of PPMC to leave government funds in the hands of these marketers, thereby putting the country in dire financial straits”.
Read more at: New Telegraph
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