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Tag: Abdulmumin Jibrin

  • Court voids House of Reps’ suspension of Jibrin

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared unlawful the 2016 decision by the House Representatives to suspend one its members, Abdulmumin Jibrin for 180 days.

    Justice John Tsoho, in a judgment on Thursday, held that the House of Reps, in suspending Jibrin beyond the 14 days allowed under its Rules, violated the House’s Rules and Jibrin’s constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and fair hearing.

    The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/CS/595/2016 filed on October 14, 2016 shortly after his suspension in September.

    Read Also: Money laundering: Court dismisses Belgore’s application

    The judge described as laughable the decision by the House of Reps to suspend a member on the grounds that he reported cases of corrupt practices against its leadership to anti-corruption agencies.

    He said, in a democracy, the lawful option opened to the House”s leadership, against who such allegations were made, was to go before the agencies to clear their names rather than resorting to undemocratic tactics.

  • Court voids Jibrin’s suspension

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday declared as unlawful the suspension of a member of the House Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, by the House leadership.

    Jubrin was suspended for 180 days by the lower legislative chamber in September 2016.

    Justice John Tsoho held that the House of Representatives erred by suspending Jibrin beyond the 14 days allowed under its Rules.

    According to him, the lawmakers violated the House’s Rules and Jibrin’s constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and fair hearing.

    The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/CS/595/2016 filed on October 14, 2016 shortly after Jubrin’s suspension.

    The judge described as laughable the decision by the House of Representatives to suspend a member on the grounds that he reported cases of corrupt practices against its leadership to anti-corruption agencies.

    He said in a democracy, the lawful option opened to the House leadership, against whom such allegations were made, was to go before the agencies to clear their names rather than resorting to undemocratic tactics.

     

     

  • 2017 budget: Jibrin backs Osinbajo on project insertion

    2017 budget: Jibrin backs Osinbajo on project insertion

    Suspended Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) has expressed regrets that the acting President Yemi Osinbajo may have played into the hands of the National Assembly by signing the 2017 budget into law despite the misgivings he had over the document.

    He however said the acting President Osinbajo’s gesture should not be mistaken as a flaw neither was it deserving of the threats he is getting from the federal legislators.

    Jibrin, in a statement Monday regretted that due process was jettisoned over grey areas identified by the acting President before the document was signed into law.

    Jibrin however assured that more facts about the 2016 budget were set to be released by him as a means of further identifying the inherent flaws in the 2017 budget document.

    He said: “The Ag President made what, in my opinion, was a harmless remark when he observed that the National Assembly has no powers to introduce new projects in the budget. In the same statement, however, he admitted the powers of NASS to allocate resources as that is its core powers of appropriation.

    “I consider his statement very objective. His tone wasn’t confrontational, neither was his body language. Ag President Osinbajo had a day earlier signed the 2017 budget noting that there were grey areas, especially funds lifted from key projects, to introduce new projects by NASS.

    “He further stated that he agreed to sign the budget after the assurance of commitment from NASS to restore the lifted funds. That demonstration of faith in NASS was unprecedented, and the most generous concession in budget negotiation by a President since 1999.

    “No any President has ever agreed to sign the budget into law on the basis of extracting commitment from NASS to attend to outstanding issues after the budget is signed into law, the reasons being:

    “Once the budget is signed into law, the President MUST implement it, whether NASS makes the correction or not.

    “There are only two ways to achieve such corrections: supplementary budget or Virement, both of which are as good as going through the entire budget process all over again, and will require the Executive to go the full length of lobbying and massaging the ego of NASS, a process they detest so much.

    “The unpredictable nature of the relationship between the Legislature and the Executive, as the state of such relationship at a particular time determines how friendly and expeditiously NASS attends to requests from the Executive.

    “Already an unhealthy prevailing circumstances is being created that will make the process tough and place few people in NASS to negotiate some selfish interest only beneficial to themselves.

    “That has been the name of the game. The NASS should know that how it handles this historic concession granted it by the Executive under the guide of Ag President Osinbajo will determine the approach of the Executive Arm in future budget negotiation”.

    Jibrin said Osinbajo was able to accomplish a lot with the signing of the budget what no leader had done before.

    “On one occasion,  President Buhari said, “If we have waited for six months, we can as well wait for weeks for NASS to correct the grey areas before I sign.” That has been the pattern with successive presidents.

    “No President was ready to take the risk with NASS but Osinbajo did, as it appeared like striking a deal with an untrustworthy partner.

    “Whether this seeming pact is calculated or not, is left for time and the scrutiny of vigilant and critical Nigerians to determine.

    “What is obvious, however, is: the Ag President has played into the hands of NASS.

    “What the Ag President has given to NASS is a victory it has never had in the budget process since 1999, understandably to strengthen the relationship between the two frequently hostile arms of government.

    “And so, he deserves a reciprocal gesture and unmistakable friendship from the lawmakers, not attacks and threats. This is my position,” he added.

    The lawmaker disclosed that in due course, he would do a recap of the 2016 budget fraud with new revelations of facts and key actors involved.

    “We will talk about fraud in 2017 budget, how members of the Executive arm collaborate with NASS in this venture, new strategies to beat vigilant eyes, concealment, abnormality, reckless spending, budget revenue frame work, and 2 dollar extra benchmark.

    “Also to be addressed are N140 billion increment in budget size amidst dwindling revenues (the largest in recent years), poor economics, the “reformed” budget process, public hearing of budget, page by page consideration of details, corrigendum, the lies, facts and half-truths of budgeting, conspiracy of a few members of NASS in the budget process against majority of the 359 Members and 108 Senators and, very importantly, how to stop these infractions”.

     

  • APC denies Jibrin’s expulsion

    APC denies Jibrin’s expulsion

    The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has distanced itself from the purported expulsion of a suspended member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, from the party.

    The party, in a statement issued by its Public Relations Office, Bashir Yahaya Karaye, described the expulsion as a mischief carried out by a party official that breached all protocols.

    It reads: “We have received with absolute disappointment rumour of expulsion of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, a strong pillar of our party, the APC in Kano and Nigeria as a whole. The unfounded report was said to have originated from a member of the party who clearly abused the party’s protocols in disseminating that wrong information to the public.

    “The party wishes to state that neither the leader of the party in Kano, His Excellency, the executive Governor of Kano, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje nor the state chairman and state executive committee were consulted or endorsed such mischievous act.

    “The party is appealing to the public to disregard that mischief as it sets out to penalize all the members involved in this dispiriting embarrassment and unnecessary confusion among members and in the media.

    “APC does not and will never tolerate impersonation, abuse of office and wanton vindictiveness by a member who had no authority to make such grave pronouncement, especially at the time we are building a united force to deliver on our promises for the people of Nigeria.

    “We wish to emphasize that Hon. Jibrin is an essential member of the APC, and his contributions and representations of our interests have never gone unrecognized. We reiterate this as a show of our appreciation of his membership and loyalty to the party at both local and national level.”

     

  • Budget padding allegations: EFCC invites Jibrin 

    Budget padding allegations: EFCC invites Jibrin 

    The suspended former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Jibrin’s invitation is based on his allegations on budget padding against the leadership of the House and to answer questions concerning money looted through padding in the 2016 budget.

    The EFCC’s letter of invitation to Jibrin dated June 9 was signed by the acting Head of Extractive Industry Grid Section, Mr Michael Wetkas.

    It said: “The commission has commenced investigation into the petition of corrupt practices and abuses of office reported on 1st August, 2016, by Hammart and Co. (Tafida Chambers) on your behalf against Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Hon. Yussuf Lasun, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa, Hon. Leonard Ogor and others.

    “In furtherance of the investigation and due to unfolding findings, it has become imperative to request that you attend another interview with the team.

    “Through Ibrahim Ahmed on 13th June 2017 at the 3rd floor Block A, No.5 Fomelu street, off Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, at 10 a.m. to clarify some issues to enable us conclude investigation”.

    Jibrin in a statement on Monday in Abuja confirmed receipt of the letter.

    He said: “Today, I received invitation from the EFCC for another interview to clarify some issues to enable the commission conclude investigation on my petition against some principal officers of the House on 2016 budget fraud, corruption and abuse of office.

    “This is a welcome development as it is coming at a time that many Nigerians have lost hope that the outcome of my petition will not see the light of the day.

    “I have severally maintained that I have full confidence in the EFCC under the Chairmanship of Ibrahim Magu.

    “I am also aware that the EFCC have been investigating the petition I submitted and far reaching discoveries were made.

    “It is also noteworthy that this invitation is coming at a time that some revelations were made last week.

    “The revelations with details of how the Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, used his company where he is the signatory to the accounts to execute constituency project contracts completely against the laws of our land.

    “It is however worrisome that in his response, Ogor admitted the offence and even boosted that there is nothing wrong in what he did as quoted by the nation’s newspaper.

    “Let me state emphatically clear that any Member or Senator who used his company or companies with links to him to execute constituency project contracts, whether such contracts are executed or not has committed an offence.

    “Either way you look at it, he can be prosecuted on charges of corruption or abuse of office.

    “The case of Leo Ogor is same or even worst than that of Babachir Lawal yet the entire National Assembly has maintained an embarrassing silence.

    “Is my boss, Senate President and Chairman of National Assembly, Sen. Bukola Saraki aware of this?

    “In due course I will expose a lot of other issues in the 2017 budget that will shock Nigerians whether the authority decides to act on it or not.”

  • Budget padding: EFCC to quiz Jibrin Tuesday

    Budget padding: EFCC to quiz Jibrin Tuesday

    The suspended former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, will appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday to answer questions on alleged padding of the 2016 budget.

    Jubrin had earlier submitted a petition to the EFCC, alleging insertion of frivolous projects in the 2016 budget by Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Yussuff Lasun and other principal officers of the House.

    The ex- appropriation committee chairman, however, expressed his delight at the invitation, saying his response would assist the Commission in its investigation.

    In a statement on Monday, Jibrin expressed confidence in the anti-corruption agency, adding that far reaching discoveries have been made on the matter.

    It reads: “It is also noteworthy that this invitation is coming at a time that some revelations were made last week with details of how the Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor used his company to execute constituency projects completely against the laws of our land.

    “It is however worrisome that in his response, Ogor admitted the offense and even boasted that there is nothing wrong in what he did.

    “Let me state emphatically clear that any member or senator who used his company or companies with links to him to execute constituency projects or contracts, whether such contracts are executed or not has committed an offense.

    “Either way you look at it, he can be prosecuted on charges of corruption or abuse of office. The case of Leo Ogor is same or even worse than that of Babachir Lawal and yet the entire National Assembly has maintained an embarrassing silence on the matter. Is my boss, Senate President and Chairman of National Assembly, Bukola Saraki aware of this?

    “In due course I will expose a lot of other issues in the 2017 budget that will shock Nigerians whether the authority decides to act on it or not.”

     

     

     

     

  • Again, controversy trail salaries of lawmakers

    Again, controversy trail salaries of lawmakers

    The face-off between the House of Representatives and the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El- Rufai has once again stimulated the debate on how much exactly a federal legislator earns.

    Similarly, the six months pay slip of the Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. Yakubu Dogara published in the Media earlier in the week has thrown pundits into a frenzy with some claiming that what was shown to the public could not the true state of a legislator’s salary.

    The Speaker’s slip showed that he earns N346, 577. 87 monthly, with his basic salary as NN206, 425. 83. The constituency allowance also shows N 175, 461.96. Recess allowance is N20, 642.58, while a monthly PAYE deductions of N55,952 was evident.

    However, many Nigerians have expressed disbelieve on the payment. While reacting to the Speaker’s  published payslips, the suspended former Chairman of the House Committee of Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin said: “If what I saw is the authentic pay slip of Mr Speaker, it means I earn more than him from what I see in my salary statement of account.

    “I have requested for my pay slip from NASS, I will publish it and my monthly salary statement of account. Perhaps I have been overpaid.”

    “Besides salaries, allowances and running cost, no member has details of about 20 other expenditure heads captured in Namdas statement.

    “I am aware majority of members feel terribly embarrassed and are presently insisting on having access to the internal budget of the House.

    “Mr Speaker, you know that NILS HQ is not completely funded from NASS allocation but partly funded by FG under service wide vote,” Jibrin said.

    But how much exactly does a federal lawmaker (House of Representatives) earn? While a member of the House earns about N2million basic salaries records show that in addition to the annual basic salary of a lawmaker, they receive a 100 percent as constituency allowance annually; members also receive 200 percent of the annual salary for accommodation, 75 percent for domestic staff, entertainment and utilities is 30 percent, while clothing or are robe allowance is 25 percent and 15 percent for Newspapers. Responsibility allowance ranges for 5 to 10 percent.
    Others are vehicle maintenance gulps another 75 percent, for staff like personal Assistant is 25 percent; and 5 percent for House maintenance.

    While aides to the principal officers’ total monthly package is between N950,000 and N500,000, five aides that lawmakers are entitled to take home between N150,000 and N450,000 monthly causing many to believe there are two sets of salaries for lawmakers: administrative and political.

    The two presiding officers have about 30 aides between them. A twist to the appointment of aides is that only few lawmakers employ people other than their relatives as Senior Legislative aides.
    More importantly, only a handful engage the services of consultants to support their legislative duties.

    This aside, the salaries of NASS members has always been contentious with Nigerians believing that it is unwieldy if viewed against the N18,000 minimum wage of Nigeria workers. Many have called for a review saying that while the people they represent are wallowing in abject poverty, lawmaker are living in and displaying stupendous affluence.

    Many reports have claimed that NASS members are the highest paid in the world with an annual basic salary of $189,500 (N30.6 m) or above. Some even adduce their payment to the high recurrent expenditure of the country.

    There have been calls for transparency in the budget details of the NASS to allow a glimpse into the financial allocations of the parliament, the most recent being that of the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir.

    He said: “Since the NASS began conceiving its budget as a single-line item, how many legislators, not to mention other citizens, have seen the details of the budget? Can anyone recall seeing the spending patterns and details in any published audited accounts of NASS recently?

    “How in the 21st Century can we have any national institution that is comfortable with not being subject to any oversight, audit or scrutiny. The constitutional principle of checks and balances was not introduced for purposes of idle luxury, but to ensure that every institution exercises its power in an accountable manner.”

    To the supposedly high salaries of its lawmakers, the National Assembly has always had a ready answer for such questions which is that its budget is only about two percent of the national budget and that it used to ensure that the remaining 98 percent is properly utilised.

    Earlier reports that touted the National Assembly members’ salaries as the highest in the world above the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and South Africa and Kenya and others.

    But the National Assembly has always said such reports were not reflective of the true state of the salaries situation.

  • Judge refuses to include Reps members in Jibrin’s suit against Dogara

    Judge refuses to include Reps members in Jibrin’s suit against Dogara

    …Fixes hearing of main suit for ‎April 28

     

    Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja has refused an application by two members of the House of Representatives, praying to be made parties in the suit by a former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

    Jibrin, in the suit N1billion suit against House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and others, is challenging his suspension from the House, for among others, questioning the decision the House o Reps leadership.

    In a ruling Thursday, Justice Tsoho dismissed the application by Nicholas Ossai and Orker-Jev Yisa, ans held that it lacked merit.

    Ossai was the Chairman of House Committee on Ethics, which recommended Jibrin’s suspension and Yisa was the House member who moved the motion Jibrin’s suspension.

    The judge described the two lawmakers as co-defendants to the suit as a busy-body and unnecessary parties in the case.

    Justice Tsoho adjourned to April 28 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

    Jibrin, from Kano State, filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/Bl2/2015, shortly before his suspension.

    He is seeking among others, an order voiding his suspension and reinstating him to the House.

    Jibrin, who was suspended on September 28, 2016, for 180 legislative days, eqully asked the court for N1bn as damages against the respondents for his alleged wrongful suspension.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the House itself and the Clerk of the House are the first to the third defendants to the suit.‎

     

  • Jibrin calls for Buhari’s resignation

    Jibrin calls for Buhari’s resignation

    Suspended member of the House of Rep, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin on Friday called for ‘negotiated exit’ of President Muhammadu Buhari from office.

    Jibrin made the call in a series of tweets on his verified social media handle @AbdulAbmJ, saying that the country can not afford a sort of part time president at this time

    He noted that the President obviously has an health challenge which he must urgently attend to.

    “The president I see on camera needs full home care not office, moderately quiet life, enough rest and quality time with his family.

    “The interest of Buhari himself, his family and friends, some officials and regional sentiments are interest that should be addressed.

    Read tweets below:

     

     

  • Budget padding: Jibrin challenges suspension in fresh suit

    Budget padding: Jibrin challenges suspension in fresh suit

    …Seeks N1bn compensation

    Former Chairman, Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin has challenged his suspension from participating in the House’s activities for 180 days.

    The legislator, who was recently suspended following his disagreement with the House’s leadership over alleged fraudulent conduct, including padding of the last national budget, is seeking N1billion damages against the defendants in a fresh suit he filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Jibrin, in the suit with House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, Clerk and others as defendants, wants the court to declare among others, that his suspension amounted to a violation of his fundamental human right to freedom of expression.

    He equally wants a declaration that the resolution passed by the House, suspending him, was in breach of the provisions of Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Jibrin wants an order of injunction restraining the House from preventing him from participating in its activities, including those of its Committees, or accessing the legislative chambers to perform his legislative duties.

    He seeks an order for the award of N1 billion against the defendants as punitive and general damages for his unlawful suspension.

    Justice John Tsosho, to who the case is assigned, has fixed hearing for November 22.

    Meanwhile, Jibrin withdrew yesterday, an earlier suit he filed before before his suspension.

    He had sought to restrain the House of Reps and its leadership from giving effect to the threat to suspend him.

    Friday, Jibrin’s lawyer, Chukwuma Nwachukwu applied to withdraw the earlier case on the ground that it has been overtaken by event.

    Although defendants’ lawyer, Kalu Onuoha demanded for cost from the plaintiff, Justice Tsoho struck out the suit, but declined Onuoha’s request for cost.