Jibrin's Suspension: One Wrong, Too Many

JIBRIN’S SUSPENSION: ONE WRONG, TOO MANY

       The last time I checked, everyone mortal was guilty of a criminal tendency. It’s not anymore news that whenever a child intends to dodge a punishment, he would employ antics that would make his superior overlook, or not to remember, the misdeed. If a child could possess such criminal tendency, why would someone confidently assert that there is a full grown adult that doesn’t have the potential to commit crime, or indulge in any wrongdoing?

       As we attempt to answer the above question, I would advise us to equally readjust our reasoning faculty in order to suit the topic of the day. Penultimate week, precisely on Wednesday 28^th September 2016, the former chairman of House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation in the person of Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin was definitely suspended by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges headed by Mr. Nicholas Ossai.

       It would be recalled that the House under the leadership of Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has upon resumption on 20^th September 2016 directed the Ethics Committee to investigate the ongoing budget padding scandal, which was raised prior to the assembly’s recess that lasted for two months, and report back to the house within a week with its findings and recommendations. The suspension is meant to last for 180 legislative sitting days of the House, starting from the aforementioned date.

       It’s noteworthy that, the House members sit three days in a week. In other words, the stipulated duration for the suspension is approximately equivalent to one year in the Gregorian calendar. Mr. Jibrin is equally expected to tender an apology letter to the House towards expiration of the purported punishment. The suspension would see the victim out of the premises of the House within the stipulated period. According to the committee boss - Mr. Ossai, in accordance with the House Code of Conduct, Mr. Jibrin is not eligible to handle any position or responsibility as long as the eighth assembly lasts.

       Mr. Ossai said that the decision of the Ethics Committee was majorly informed by Mr. Jibrin’s inability to appear before it when asked to do so, coupled with ‘other misconducts’ of the lawmaker. It’s worth noting that Mr. Jibrin failed to answer the call of the committee two weeks ago - Friday 23^rd September, for questioning, with the reason that the committee lacked the locus standi to interrogate him since the matter in question was already in court. Therein, the embattled lawmaker sought for court injunction to stop the committee from exercising such ‘unlawful act’, but his effort proved abortive prior to the emergence of the suspension.

       It’s really mind-boggling, perhaps fascinating to acknowledge that when the motion pertaining to the suspension called for voting from the overall honourable members on the floor of the House, as was presented by Mr. Speaker, all the legislators present at the sitting – excluding Mr. Jibrin unanimously seconded the motion. The overwhelming support won by the motion remains the highlight of the outing.

       It’s very disheartening that amidst the ongoing recession, what the lower chamber of the National Assembly (NASS) could first entertain to was the budget padding scandal, with the intention of ostracizing the whistle blower. It’s even more worrisome when realized that the case in question is currently being entertained by a law court of competent jurisdiction. This very action has made me to believe that the recess embarked upon by the House members was merely used to deliberate on how to conspire against a colleague that is seen as a threat. Hence, I unequivocally refuse to be convinced that the abrupt action wasn’t occasioned by conspiracy.

       I wonder why the members couldn’t ‘conspire’ toward ensuring that the speaker steps down while the investigations last; rather, they chose to do otherwise. Isn’t it amusing to acknowledge that the so-called investigations conducted by the Ethics Committee were done under the leadership of the same man who was being accused of the scandal; how do you reconcile this? The legislators, instead of focusing on issues that would salvage Nigeria from the unbearable lingering recession, they preferred to indulge in matters regarding personal interest. Yet, they would proudly tell us that they are representing our collective interest. It’s amusing that the melodrama is happening amidst the anti-graft war era.

      Come to think of it, why couldn’t the court issue an injunction to stop the committee from carrying out such uncalled duty? Someone might say, it was an internal affair of the House, thus no one/authority could stop it from doing so; if this presumption truly holds water, it implies that the judiciary lacks the power to call the legislature to order. Then, if this is the case, it would be better to scrap the former (judiciary) from the country’s constitution.

       For crying out loud, when the lawmakers become lawbreakers, as in this case, it is the duty of the judiciary to remind them of their obligations. The judiciary was basically established to interpret the law with a view to maintaining its rules; it is the statutory duty of the judiciary to ensure that the rule of law prevails, or is sustained, at all cost. I got baffled each time I observe the highly revered institution doing otherwise, or overlooking its fundamental functions as stipulated in the Nigerian Constitution. It’s high time we got it right, at least for once.

        I strongly belong to a school of thought that’s of the view that a mistake can be pardoned, but a blunder is conspicuously unpardonable. The point remains that, Mr. Jibrin’s suspension is arguably ‘one wrong, too many’ that needs to be addressed in earnest by all concerned bodies. The error must be corrected; else, we ought to be prepared to witness the unthinkable among our ‘lawmakers’. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador