News Post

The House of Representatives in a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 unanimously voted to suspend Hon. Abdulmumin Jubrin for 180 legislative Days. The decision was taken after consideration and adoption of the report and recommendations of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges on the breach of the practices, precedents, usages of the House of Representatives and sundry Acts of misconduct against members of the House of Representatives and National Assembly; and breach of the provisions of the Legislative Houses (powers and privileges) Act, Cap. L12, LFN, 2004 presented to the Chamber by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Revd. Dr. Ossai Nicholas Ossai.

It will be recalled that a Point of Order was raised by the Chairman, Committee on Business and Rules, Hon. Emmanuel Oker-Jev upon resumption of plenary on September 21, 2016 alleging that his privilege has been grossly violated by the erstwhile Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Hon. Abdulmumin Jubrin who was alledged to have in many occasions granted interviews to media outfits, where he publicly labelled the principal officers of the House and indeed the entire members of the House of Representatives as being corrupt and involved in padding the 2016 National Budget. Consequently, the matter was referred to the Ethics Committee to investigate and make recommendations to the House. Other recommendations made by the Committee include barring Hon. Jubrin from holding positions of responsibility till the end of the life of the 8th National Assembly; and a written apology tendered to the entire House.

The resolution was passed in a Committee of the Whole presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Lassun who gave leave to the Ethics Committee Chairman to make summary submission on the reports as well as read out the recommendations based on its findings. Hon. Ossai ceased the opportunity to inform the House that the Committee strictly adhered to the principle of fair hearing and got evidence-based submittions from the parties in involved. He however informed that Hon. Jubrin failed to appear before the Committee to answer to the allegations against him. He added that the ex-Appropriation Committee Chair confirmed receipt of notice of summon and replied that he would only appear before the Committee if the Hearing was made public. Noting that even after conceding to his conditions, yet he refused to make appearance before the Committee. "Failure to appear before a statutory Committee of the House of Representatives amounts to defiance in itself" he averred.

Earlier during the plenary, the House voted against a motion moved by Hon. Francis Charles Uduyok, calling for re-introduction of tollgates on Federal roads to enhance maintenance and construction . The motion was described by members as ill-timed and baseless on the ground that there is hardship in the country and most of the federal roads are in bad shape. Lawmakers who spoke against the prayers of the motion insisted the tax payers money has appropriated for road maintenance, mounting tollgates for purposes of extorting money from Nigerians would be illegal and criminal, they argued.

Meanwhile, the House has charged the National Sports Commission to initiate measures that would lead to the establishment of a National Anti-Doping Agency. The charge came following a motion moved by Hon. Akinfolarin Mayowa who informed the House that after a Conference in Switzerland in 1999, the World Anti-Doping Agency which sets standard in the fight against doping in sports was established. He added that the National Sports Commission had obtained a presidential approval under President Olusegun Obasanjo for the establishment of National Anti-Doping Organization Laboratory and subsequent approval in 2010 to commence operation, under President Goodluck Jonathan. He stated that he believes an anti-doping agency would save the nation embarrassment and as well give room for only qualified and dope-free athletes to represent Nigeria at international tournaments.