The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has challenged the sacked Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Jubrin Abdulmumini, to provide evidences of his claim that four principal officers of the green chamber were involved in padding the 2016 budget.

Frank, who made this known in a statement sent to journalists in Abuja, also said that it is quite disturbing and most unprofessional in the manner at which Abdulmumini has decided to express his frustration at his sack as the House Committee Chairman on Appropriation.

He alleged that Abdulmumini is on a mission to bring the House leadership in total disregard and disparagement in the eyes of the public.

Abdulmumini had accused the four principal officers including the Speaker of “not being comfortable with my independent disposition and my refusal to cover up their unilateral decision to allocate to themselves N40 billion out of the N100 billion allocated to the entire National Assembly. The four of them met and took that decision.”

In a statement he signed Friday in Abuja, the APC spokesman believed that “the National Assembly is a sacrosanct institution and must be made to remain so in the eyes of the public even where there are disagreements amongst Senators and Honourable Members. Any attempt to rubbish this institution must be resisted by all democratic stakeholders, whilst resisting impunity in order to carry out its business of legislative functions to Nigerians.

“So why wasn’t this matter petitioned to the appropriate quarters for investigation since the leadership has no immunity of sort. Or was there a sinister motive to be quite and become an accomplice to the crime he’s stated in his press conference? I make bold to challenge Hon. Abdulmumini to come up with evidences to these allegations as stated in his press conference.

“If the allegations made by Hon. Abdulmumini, who instead of confronting the Members of the House on these weighty allegations of the principal officers is anything to reckon with, then the ICPC and the EFCC should have been petitioned to investigate these principal officers rather than rush to grant a press conference and bring disdain to the leadership of the House.

“No one can be bigger than the National Assembly. For the avoidance of doubt, Speaker Dogara must be commended for his role in championing people’s friendly legislation to the benefit of Nigerians. It is also worthy to note that this is the first time since the inception of democracy that a Committee Chairman of Appropriation has been relieved of his duty and as such we await the reasons for his removal from the leadership of the House upon resumption. I am therefore requesting that the Hon. Speaker and the leadership of the House of Representatives make clear and provide reasons why Hon. Abdulmumini was sacked from his position as Chairman of the Appropriation Committee.

While calling on the lawmakers to exercise decorum, Frank said as leaders, “the Honourable Members should realise that they are first representatives for the people, serving as custodians to our commonwealth and must conduct their affairs with decorum at all times.”

•Photo shows Hon. Jibrin.

Update news