Reps insist: We won’t recall Jibrin until he apologises

The house of representatives says it will not recall Abdulmumin Jibrin, former house representatives chairman on appropriations, until he apologises.

Abdulrazak Namdas, chairman, house committee on media and public affairs, is insisting that Jibrin must tender a written apology to the lawmakers before he can return.

Namdas had intially said this after the expiration of Jibrin’s suspension.

The lawmaker was suspended in 2016 for levelling allegations of corruption against some principal members of the green chamber.

The representative of Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency of Kano state, had accused Yakubu Dogara, house speaker, Yussuff Lasun, deputy speaker, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, chief whip, and Leo Ogor, minority leader, of padding the 2016 budget.

He said they had attempted to illegally add N40 billion out of N100 billion allocated to the national assembly, to the budget, while calling for the resignation of the speaker.

On July 27, Dogara gave Jibrin a seven-day ultimatum to apologise and retract all his allegations against him or face legal action.

Though the house was on a two-month recess as of the time he made allegations, Jibrin sent petitions on August 1 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Department of State Services (DSS) against Dogara and others.

The house ethics committee subsequently said it found him guilty of misconduct and recommended his suspension.

On September 28, 2016, the house slammed a 180-day suspension, approximately one legislative year on Jibrin, who subsequently challenged the action in court.

He was supposed to resume by September 30 but the house is yet to recall him.

Jibrin has vowed not to apologise.