Jibrin: My Life Is Under Threat

Suspended member of House of Representatives Abdulmumin Jibrin has vowed never to return to Nigeria unless his safety is guaranteed.

The House member from Kano State made this known in a statement in Abuja.

He was suspended for 180 legislative days by the House. That was after he accused the speaker, some principal officers and a few other members of corruption. He also accused them of  abuse of office and monumental fraud in padding up the 2016 budget.

In an exclusive interview with a television station in London on Monday, the lawmaker said he recently received threats from some of the lawmakers he accused of corruption.

According to him, the ‘House cabal’ led by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Yusuf Lasun, Whip Alhassan Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor are using Rep. Herma Hembe to either assassinate or kidnap him or members of his family.

The lawmaker also said that the initial silence of the President on the matter was a blessing in disguise. He said if the President had reacted earlier, he could have been accused of interference.

“The situation at hand is different from the initial stage of the crisis. The silence of the presidency is no longer sending the right message to Nigerians and the international community ,” he said.

Jibrin also revealed that he recently wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari. He briefed him about the monumental fraud in the 2016 budget.

He said his letter also included some vital information on how to check corruption in the house.

According to him, over 2,000 fraudulent projects worth over N284 billion were inserted into 2016 budget. He stated that such fraud had never happened in the history of the Nigerian legislature.

He also exonerated himself of any wrongdoing in the appropriation process. He added that he had been in the House for five years and had never abused his office or corruptly enriched himself.

House Member describes statement as ‘laughable’

Meanwhile, honourable Herman Hembe (APC-Benue), one of the lawmakers accused by Jibrin on padding of the 2016 budget, has accused Jibrin of fleeing to the United Kingdom to avoid prosecution.

Hembe disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja while reacting to Jibrin’s statement.

Hembe said: “my attention has been drawn to a statement issued by the suspended member Abdulmumin Jibrin who has fled to United Kingdom.

“Jibrin’s allegation that his life is under threat is laughable.

“I understand that the anti-graft agencies are closing in on him with their investigation into his past deeds.

“He might have got the hint of his possible prosecution and decided to flee while raising false alarm.

“May I remind him that no matter where he goes justice will surely catch up with him. There is no hiding place for criminals in our today’s world,”Hembe said.