Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, has denied blocking a motion demanding the dismissal of Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy.
Gbajabiamila said on Thursday that he only faulted Ndudi Elumelu, house minority leader, for not following due process when he raised the matter.
He also said the matters of privilege under which the issue was raised are not subject to debate.
During Wednesday’s plenary session, Elumelu raised a point of order calling for the sack of Pantami over his past views supporting terror groups such as Al-Qaeda and Taliban.
But the speaker said it was wrong for the lawmaker to have raised an external matter under privilege, which concerns issues that affect only lawmakers.
“You have come under the wrong order,” he had said, but added that “your point has been noted.”
When plenary resumed on Thursday, Ahmed Jaha from Borno state drew the attention of his colleagues to reports claiming that the house blocked a motion on Pantami.
“As a member of this house, from my understanding, this house did not stop the minority leader from moving a motion,” he said.
“The speaker informed the minority leader that he should come under a proper order. Nobody stopped him from raising his point of order.”
Gbajabiamila agreed with him, saying the house does not debate matters of privilege.
“As you have rightfully observed, Elumelu came under Order 6 – matters of privilege,” he said.
“Privileges are not motions and are not debated or even require seconding. There was no motion here yesterday.”
He then asked any lawmaker who has a petition or motion on Pantami’s case should follow the due process and bring it for consideration.
