House: Abdulmumin Cannot Dictate to Ethics Committee

•Committee begins public hearing tomorrow
Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The House of Representatives on Thursday said the sacked Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin, cannot dictate the agenda or mode of investigation for the Ethics and Privileges committee, which has been mandated to investigate him for breach of privileges and sundry acts of misconduct.

As a fallout of the tirade of allegations of corruption levelled against the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, three principal officers and some members of the lower chamber, the House on Wednesday had voted to refer him to the Ethics committee for investigation.

The motion recommended  suspension for a period not less than six months.
Abdulmumin had however noted that he would not appear before the committee unless the proceedings are allowed to be made public with civil societies organisations and labour unions in attendance.

But the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak, addressing journalists, said the committee headed by Hon. Ossai Ncholas Ossai, would decide on how to undertake its investigation.

“The committee would decide by itself…it is not for Abdulmumin to set agenda on how the committee should run. He is not the Chairman of the Ethics Committee, he was Chairman of Appropriation Committee,” Namdas said.

Namdas further clarified that the motion by the Chairman of Rules and Business , Hon. Emmanuel Orker-Jev, has to do with the investigation as it concerns the House, not for the individuals accused by Abdulmumin.

“The man has written individual petitions, and these are already before the relevant agencies…we cannot stop them from doing their job. The committee is concerned with the allegations as they concern the House. Four people cannot do a budget, so if the budget was padded, it is the House,” he said.

Namdas added that if Abdulmumin shows remorse, tracts his statements and apologises to the House, the Ethics committee would make recommendations on the next line of action to the House.
Meanwhile the Ethics committee would commence hearing tomorrow at 10a.m. While it would be open to journalists, recordings would not be allowed.
THISDAY gathered that the hearing would also  be opened to the public.