Jibrin goes on exile, alleges assassination plot

Suspended lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin, on Monday said he had proceeded on exile in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Jibrin blamed the budget padding scandal in the House of Representatives for the decision.

The lawmaker said he had recently discovered that his security was no longer guaranteed and, as such, it would be foolhardy if he remained in the country.

Mr. Jibrin said this when he appeared on a Ben Television program in London Monday.

Mr. Jibrin said a purported five-man cabal led by Speaker Yakubu Dogara was plotting to either kidnap him or assassinate him or members of his family.

Other alleged members of the cabal included Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun; Minority Leader, Leo Ogor; House Whip Alhassan Ado-Doguwa and a member, Herma Hembe.

The development came a day after Mr. Jibrin bagged an award in London.

The African Voice Newspaper said Mr. Jibrin deserved the award for his whistleblowing activities.

Mr. Dogara’s spokesman, Turaki Hassan, and Mr. Ogor did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ request for comment for this story.

Messrs. Hembe, Doguwa and Lasun could not be reached for comments.

Mr. Jibrin also sent a message to President Buhari about the budget scandal, saying his silence had been too much for too long.

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

Mr. Jibrin said he plans to continue his campaign to defeat corruption in Nigeria’s parliament from his base abroad