Ripples of Mr. Abdulmumuni Jibrin’s removal as chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation has engulfed the lower chamber over fresh allegations of budget padding.

The former Chairman has asked the Speaker Mr. Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker, Mr. Lasun Yusuff, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor and Chief Whip, Alhassan Garba to resign as principal officers of the House.

But in a swift reaction, the House through its spokesman, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas accused Jibrin of blackmail and being a distraction to legislative business.

Jibrin said the named officials acted inappropriately and that his refusal to yield to their schemes during the budget exercise cost him his job as chairman of the Appropriation committee, adding that he only resigned for peace to reign.

Jibrin said Dogara sought to insert about N30 billion naira worth of projects for his personal benefit in the controversial 2016 budget while the other principal officers also made demands totalling over N70billion.

He said he had a lot of documentary evidence on these requests by these officers which he would make available in the course of time.

The Kano APC two time member of the House also said he was removed because of his opposition to the Bill seeking immunity for presiding officers of the National Assembly, adding that Dogara was projecting the proposed legislation as a scheme to cover his track.

Mr. Jibrin had been accused by majority of members of allegedly padding the 2016 Budget to feather his nest by inserting some N4billion worth of projects for his constituency in the budget.

However, a statement released by Namdas Thursday evening denied Mr. Jibrin’s allegations, saying the former chairman was belly-aching over his removal.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been down to media statements made by the former Chairman of House Appropriation Committee, Hon Abdulmumuni Jibrin wherein he made wild allegations against the House of Representatives and it’s leaders.

“We wish to say that it is the prerogative of the Selection Committee of the House  to appoint and remove Committee Chairmen. That power has been so exercised in the case of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin as chairman of Appropriation Committee.

“Most of the allegations on the 2016  budget process and his opposition to immunity of Presiding officers  are non-issues and mere after thought manufactured simply because the House relieved him of his position.

“If he had all these ‘facts’ before ,why didnt he make them public? Why is he doing that now?

“Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, like any other member of the House knows that there are conventions and precedents as it relates to budgets and projects for principal officers of the National Assembly . Why is he making it an issue now? In any case, he is entitled to his opinion as a Nigerian and as a legislator while acting within the laws of Nigeria and rules of the House.

“We must make it abundantly clear that he was not removed because of his support or otherwise on immunity bill. After all, he is not the only one who opposed the bill.

“The bill is still pending before committee on review of constitution and it has to be voted upon by each and every member of the House, get Senate concurrence, endorsed by two-third of the 36 State Houses of Assembly and be assented to by the President. It is a cheap blackmail on the part of Hon. Jibrin to even insinuate that he was removed because he opposed immunity bill.

“He should not distract the House from giving legislative support on important issues facing the government concerning the revival of the economy, insecurity in the country, pursuit of anti-corruption measures, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development etc.

“The Nigerian people are simply not ready to waste their time on personal issues and personal egos of our leaders. We should face the urgent tasks before us for which we were elected.” ORDERPAPER.NG