As Jibrin marks 1yr of suspension, Reps say he must apologise, meet other condition before re-acceptance

Despite being suspended for 180 legislative days, former House of Representatives Appropriations Committee chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin’s troubles may not be over yet.

His colleagues in the hallowed green chamber said he must apologize to the House and meet other conditions before he would be re-admitted by the lawmakers.

Jibrin on Thursday took to his twitter handle to note that the day marks one year since he was suspended from the House, and his constituents denied a right to representation at the lower House.

But House committee chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaq Namdas, on the same day, during a weekly media session in Abuja told newsmen why Jibrin was yet to be re-admitted after spending a full legislative year on suspension.

Following his accusation that the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and other principal members of the House conspired to make fraudulent insertions into the 2016 budget, Jibrin was suspended before the House went on the annual recess at the end of the 2016 legislative year.

Asked to explain why Jibrin was yet to return, Namdas said he had not completed his 180-day suspension. He added that after completing his suspension, Jibrin must notify the House formally, write an apology letter and meet other conditions as listed by the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the House, before he would be re-admitted.

“I have also asked the Ethics and Privileges Committee Chairman about the issue and he said the 180 days suspension is not over. Jibrin will also have to notify the House.  He will write an apology letter too. You know there are other conditions he will have to meet to complete the procedure,” Namdas said.

The Reps explanation on the matter came just as Jibrin wrote on his Twitter handle, “One  year today of denying my constituents’ representation in the House and one year taken off my four years constitutional mandate, only in Nigeria.”

In a subsequent statement he released through his media aide, Godwin Onyeacholem, Jibrin said he was prepared “to make whatever sacrifice for the good of the House of Representatives and Nigeria as a whole, so that posterity will remember him on the good side of history.”

On Namdas’ comments, Jibrin said the lawmaker was insensitive and insulting to the people of his constituency, Kiru/Bebeji of Kano State, who he said had protested his suspension.

“It is somewhat weird that the official spokesman for the House claims that he does not know the exact date that Jibrin’s purported suspension would lapse. That in itself speaks volume of the subterfuge and sinister motives around the whole issue,” part of the statement read.

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