Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin Says He’s Ready To Go To Jail

Abdulmumin-JibrinThe former chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has declared his readiness to go to jail if the allegations of corruption he leveled against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and three other principal officers of the House are found to be false.

The embattled lawmaker told journalists at a press conference in Abuja yesterday that he believed in his allegations but that if they were later found otherwise, he would go to jail for lying.

Mr. Jibrin, who accused the Speaker and some of the principal officers of ‘inserting’ projects worth over N40billion into the 2016 budget, said his press conference was to show evidence of all the allegations, adding that he was ready to go to any length to prove them.

The Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency representative, who is billed to appear before the ethics and privileges committee of the House today (Monday), said he would not be available for the committee’s proceedings because he had no confidence in the panel.

The former appropriation committee chairman had last week vowed not to appear before the Rep Ossai Nicholas Ossai-led committee unless the proceedings were made public.

“As in several instances in the past, I am compelled to share these documents with the press today as the last resort because Speaker Dogara has continued to deny me the opportunity to present my case before my colleagues.

“I must confess that I am not an angel. I am imperfect and fallible, which are peculiar human traits. I, therefore, wish to apologize to Nigerians where I have erred in the past. I have fully repented and I will make it up for the country by staying on course, taking the personal risk at ensuring that I continue to expose corruption and corrupt persons in the House and beyond.

“This does not mean in any way that I am asking for immunity from investigation and prosecution if allegations are brought against me. I am ready to go to jail if found guilty of any offense. I have stated repeatedly that in the five years that I have been in the House, I have never abused my office nor corruptly enriched myself”, he said.

“I will urge the senate to rely on the doctrine of necessity to continue to discharge the duties of the National Assembly until such a time that the House of Representatives would have concluded the process of internal cleansing”, Jibrin said.

Reacting, the chairman of the ethics and privileges committee, Rep Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta), told journalists that the committee did not receive any communication from Jibrin that he would not appear.

Asked if it was true that the outcome of the committee’s investigation was predetermined as alleged by Jibrin, Ossai said the committee would not in any way compromise its integrity.