By For daring to speak against the wrongdoings in the National Assembly, two lawmakers from the two Chambers have been made to forfeit their sittings at the plenary sessions as they have both been suspended, even beyond dates prescribed by the Law Book of the Legislative arm.
At the mention of Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, the next phrase that comes to mind is “whistle-blowing”, as this was the act that got him on the wrong side of the leadership of the Green Chambers which eventually got him suspended for a period of 6 months.
The erstwhile Appropriation Committee Chairman had lifted the lid on what he called ‘Budget Fraud” perpetuated by the House of Representatives during the 2016 Budget process. He disclosed to the general public how a very small group of legislators illegally increased figures in the fiscal approriation bill.
On the other hand, Senator Ali Ndume problems started when he began fronting for the duo of Secretary to the Governnment of the Federation, Mr David Babachir Lawal and Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Commission, Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, two personalities that the leadership of the Senate think should not occupy a seat in the current administration. His latest offence was naming Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye in a vehicle importation scandal and certificate forgery case respectively.
Their Profiles…
Born Abdulmumin Jibrin on September 9th, 1976 in Military barracks of Agenebode, Bendel State (Edo State), he had his education in Kano, kaduna and Abuja as he was moving with this parent as service took his father, Lieutenant Labaran Mohammed Jibrin to various States in the country.
He obrained his First degree in Political Sciences at the University of Abuja in 1999, M.Sc in International Affairs and Diplomacy at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 2003 and then his PhD in International Relations at UniAbuja in 2009.
Between the periods of 2009 snd 2014, he attended, London Business School, Harvard Business School, International Business House, London, European Insitute of Business Administrtaion France, and Swiss Business School, Zurich, Switzerland where he holds a MBA.
After a bref working experience in the media industry where he worked with the Century Research and Communication Limited, he moved on to start his own company Green Forest Investment Ltd in 2003. The later company grow with subsidiaries in Energy, Property Development, Investment, Agriculture, Construction and Engineering.
His journey into politics started in 2011 when he was elected into the House of Representatives where he represented Kiru/Bebeji Federal constituency, Kano State using the People’s Democratic Party. He was appointed as the Chairman House Committee on FInance in the 7th Assembly.
At the formation of the All Progressives Congress in 2014, Jibrin decamped with his followers to the new party. He was part of the influencers of Engr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as an aspirant for the presidential ticket of the party in the build up to the 2015 General Election.
He was re-elected in 2015 to represent the Kiru/Bebeji Constituency. After the 8th Assembly began, he campaigned to become the new Speaker but was oust by Hon Yakubu Dogara. He was however appointed the Chairman House Committee on Appropriation before he resigned in July, 2016.
Born Mohammed Ali Ndume on November 20th, 1959in Gwoza town of Borno State, he had his education in Mubi, Adamawa State and Kaduna State before moving back to Borno State in 1983 where he joined Ramat Polytechnic as a Senior Lecturer.
In 1988, Ali was awarded the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Post-Graduate Schorlarship where he studied Business and Computer Education at the University of Toledo, Ohio and obtained both B.Ed and M.Ed in 1990 and was awarded Magna Cum Laude academic honour. For his outstanding performance in academics, he was admitted into the Phi Kappa Phi academic society. He returned to Ramat Poly in Nigeria, where he continued to lecture till he entered into politics.
He was first elected to represent the Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in 2003 on the platform of All Nigeria People’s party (ANPP). He was appointed as the Minority Leader of the House in 2007.
He decamped to the People’s Democractic Party in December 2010 and automatically emerged the flagbearer of the party for the Borno South Senatorial disctrict as he was a politician and strong backbone to reckon with. He won the election with a great margin defeating his counterpart from his former party.
In the build up to General elections of 2015, Ali decamped again to the newly formed All Progressives Congress along with 20 others of his colleagues in the Red Chamber. After the Senate elections in 2016, he emerged the Senate Majority Leader till he was impeached early January 2017.
Their Offences….
Called the Master Whistle-blower, Jibrin in July 2016 after tendering his resignation letter leaving the position of the Chairman of Appropriation Committee disclosed to the general public about huge fraud perpetuated in the budget process. He added that the hijacking of the changes from his Committee led to him leaving the position.
He said his constitutional duty as the Appropriation Committee Chairman was taken from his by the leadership of the House. He added that the Speaker and some principal officers were involved in diverting billions of Naira to their pockets.
It was during this period that ‘budget padding’ became a viral phrase. The House Committee on Ethics quickly summoned him and was subsequently suspended for 6 months.
For Senator Ali Ndume, little did he know that he has fallen on the wrong side if majority of the Senators who wanted to ‘deal’ with Babachir David Lawal and Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, both of which he continues to give his backings.
Trouble started for him in January 2017 after the Senate resumed from the yuletide break and he was immediately removed as the Senate Leader in his absence even though he moved the motion for commencement of discussion that day. He was immediately replaced with Senator Ahmed Lawan of Yobe South.
It was a huge shock to him when he was making ways back to the Chambers and members of the press asked about his reaction to his latest removal as the number 3 person in the Senate. He was so surprised that he asked again if he was not still the Senate Leader. Then it downed on him that the plan of the Senators was hatched when he stepped out to observe his early afternoon prayers. He accepted his fate and moved on.
All came crashing on him when he recently took to news making rounds online where two of his colleagues were named in different allegations. While Senator Dino Melaye was accused of parading a forged First Degree certificate from Ahmadu Bello University, Senator Bukola Saraki was accused to importing a N370m bulletproof Range Rover which was impounded by the Customs after the driver presented forged documents.
All Ali asked the Senate to do was to investigate the two lawmakers so as to ascertain if they have abused their privileges as Senators and clear the media speculations against the hallowed chamber.
The Senate Committee on Ethics soon carried out checks and found Ali’s allegations to be untrue and immediately suspended him for 6 months.
A quick look into the reactions of prominent Nigerians on the issue of suspension of the lawmakers revealed that the Law Book guiding Nigeria’s bicameral legislature has it that no member should be suspended beyond 14 days, as elongated suspension will deny the constituents their rights of being represented.
Apparently, all is not well with the 8th Assembly.
