By Cross Udo
Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, says the House cannot call one of its members, Gudaji Kazaure, representing Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency of Jigawa State to order over allegations of embezzlement of Stamp Duties funds and cover-ups by the administrative officials.
He said Kazaure’s assignment was independent of the House and could not be called to order.
The Speaker also said the Green Chamber would only intervene if the allegation by the lawmaker impugns the integrity of the House or individuals or leadership of the House that have nothing to do with what he’s doing.
Gbajabiamila stated this while speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.
Asked if the issues raised by Kazaure came up in the meeting with the president, the Speaker said: “Kazaure, from my understanding, is working with whoever he’s working with. If it necessitates the house coming in, we will come in. If he has an official function, he should go ahead and do his work. But this has nothing to do with National Assembly. None that I know of.”
Fielding question on if indeed what Kazaure was doing has nothing to do with National Assembly, the Speaker said: “No, no, no, no, no, it was not based on a resolution of the National Assembly. It was not based on a motion from the National Assembly; I believe he said he had the executive authority to do what he was doing. If that be the case, I mean, then it’s got nothing to do with the National Assembly.”
Further asked if Nigerians are likely to see the House call him to order since he’s not representing the Green Chamber, he said: “Well, the house can only call Kazaure to order to the extent that he is impugning on the integrity of the house or individuals or leadership of the House that have nothing to do with what he’s doing.
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“I think it’s important to separate the two if he has the mandate to do something that’s on him. When it came up, we asked members of the executive they said they were not aware of any mandate or such mandate has been withdrawn.
“I don’t want to get into it. I don’t want to get into it except to the extent that he tries to impugn the integrity of members of the House. And that’s a no, no, we have nothing to do with this.”
The Speaker, who said he was in the Villa to discuss with the President pressing national issues, including the cashless policy controversy, 2023 elections, and security issues as well as felicitate with the President on his 80th birthday, also said the 10 days before they vacate force elections will be intense and engaging.
He also disclosed that the 2023 budget proposal of N20.5trn would be passed on Thursday
