The Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, on Saturday, August 13 rescinded on his statements that legislators could not be investigated for carrying out their legislative duties, in an unclear way to shield himself from the fallout of his claim based on the public outcry over the budget padding scandal.
“As an Officer in the Temple of Justice, Dogara not only owes unalloyed allegiance to the judiciary but also to the institutions of law enforcement,” the speaker revealed in a statement signed by his media ,Turaki Hassan
The disclaimer showed a conspicuous difference from the earlier public statements by Dogara on the demands for a thorough investigation into the padding scandal, which he often waved away. “It doesn’t even make sense and they have forgotten about Section 30 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, and others” which says “most of the things we do in the National Assembly are privileged,” the Speaker stated while addressing the audience at an event that was put together by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre. Dogara said: “They cannot be grounds for any investigation on the procedure or proceedings to commence against a member of parliament, either the Speaker or the President of the Senate, once they are done in the exercise of their proper functions.” The Speaker’s stance has continued to change as the scandal evolved from what first appeared like a daily misunderstanding among lawmakers into a full-blown national disgrace, thereby generating persistent calls for his resignation from daily by Nigerians and social crusade groups. The Speaker on Saturday, August 13 on his Twitter page wrote that he “had initially chosen to remain silent,” about the allegations, which came largely from Kano lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin, but now speaking to Nigerians because he had suddenly realised that “communication is key."
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