The Nigerian presidency on Monday, August 8, 2016 deplored what it said were attempts by Abdulmumin Jibrin to drag President Muhammadu Buhari into the budget padding allegations.
It said Jibrin, as a lawmaker, should know the “protocol” on how to see Buhari, as against his recent insinuations that he had been blocked from seeing the President.
Abdulrahman Kawu-Sumaila, the senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly matters, reacted amid insinuations that he was one of the “three former” members of the House of Representatives accused by Jibrin on Sunday to have “blocked” his efforts to see Buhari to state his own version of the budget scandal just like the Speaker did.
The SSA said there had “never” been a time Jibrin requested through his office to see Buhari that he was denied access.
He said, “The way he has been going about this issue is unfortunate. He is dragging the names of innocent people into it.
“He has not approached me that he wants to see the President. If he makes a request, I will facilitate it for him. He knows the protocol.”
Kawu-Sumaila said his role in Dogara’s meeting with Buhari was to act as a facilitator.
He said he neither participated in the meeting nor knew the outcome.
The SSA added, “When the Speaker wanted to see Mr. President, he told me.
“I did my part to facilitate it. I was waiting at the office while they met. I was not at the meeting with them.
“It was after the meeting ended and the Speaker came out that I saw him off.
“The same thing would have happened if Jibrin requested to see the President.”
