Even as the House of Representatives said it will invite Rep. Ibrahim Usman Auyo (APC, Jigawa) to substantiate his allegation that lawmakers pay between N1 million and N3 million before being allowed to present motions, bills, or petitions during plenary, the decision has been described as illegal and a resort to self-help since according to the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) the House of Representatives (HOR) can’t be a judge, and a prosecutor in its own case.
HURIWA said the decision by the leadership of the Federal House of Representatives to possibly threatene, intimidate or blackmail the whistle-blower with the sledge hammer of suspension is a clandestine plot to conceal evidence of the alleged widespread malpractices of the House of Representatives’s hierarchy demanding bribes so as to enhance the earliest presentation of bills or for the members so concerned to be accorded a speaking opportunity. HURIWA said the allegation touches on the very foundation of the legislative arm of government and therefore should not be muddied up in the gang up the hierarchy of the Federal House of Representatives is constructing against their own member who opted to be a whistle-blower to correct an abnormality that rubbish the legislature as the voice of the voiceless and presents the House as the House of bribe-seekers.
In a media statement endorsed by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA criticised the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences commission (ICPC) for failing to take notice of this scandalous allegations of financial inducement for presentation of bills in the federal House of Representatives which offends the fundamental functions of the National Assembly just as the Rights group has charged the ICPC to wade into the matter by inviting all the individuals in the leadership of the Federal House of Representatives alongside the whistle-blower so as to conduct transparent investigation of the damaging allegation.
Representative Auyo, who represents Hadejia, Auyo, and Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency, in a viral video, claimed that the process of getting items listed for consideration in the House is financially driven, contrary to the public perception that debates are guided solely by merit.
He alleged that lawmakers pay between N1 million and N3 million before being allowed to present motions, bills, or petitions during plenary.
His allegation has caused public outrage and raised fresh concerns over the integrity of the National Assembly’s legislative process.
But in a statement on Thursday, spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi, described the allegation as unsubstantiated and capable of undermining public confidence in parliament.
HURIWA however condemned the Federal House of Representatives for seeking to sweep the allegation under the carpets just as the House of Representatives has been warned not to undermine the anti-corruption war by using intimidation, threats of suspension to deny Nigerians the opportunity of knowing the veracity of that allegation made by Honourable Auyo or otherwise.
COMRADE EMMANUEL NNADOZIE ONWUBIKO,
NATIONAL COORDINATOR,
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA. August 15th 2025.
