Lower House Speaker Refers Expulsion of MP Abiib to House Committee for Review

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Lower House speaker Adan Madobe has referred the matter on expulsion of outspoken lawmaker Abdullahi Abiib to the House Committee on House Rules, Welfare, Ethics, and Immunity for review.

In a statement Tuesday, the Speaker directed that the matter be reviewed by the committee and thereafter issue further guidelines on the the expulsion of Abiib.

“The Speaker of the House of the People of the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Somalia has referred the matter, HOP#201, back to the House of the People’s Committee on Rules, Welfare, Ethics, and Immunities for consideration and then recommendation to the House,” the statement read in part.

The Speaker said the decision followed recommendations from the House Standing Committee, which is empowered under the House Rules to review a matter before the House.

Speaker Madobe declared Abiib’s seat vacant on March 15 citing absence from the House in two consecutive sessions.

The speaker’s directive comes amid reports on a move by the opposition MPs to filed a motion for his removal over the handling the matter.