House Summons Minister of Interior and Controller-General of the Nigerian Prisons Service Over Assault On Female Lawmaker
The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Interior, Lt-Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau(retd), and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Mr. Peter Ekpendu, over an alleged assault on a female member of the House.
Security aides attached to the convoy of Mr. Ekpendu allegedly descended on Mrs. Onyemachi Mrukpor and slapped her for overtaking the convoy of the CG.
A motion on the incident, which was moved by the Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor, was unanimously endorsed by members at Thursday’s session presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.
“The member was battered under the watch of the CG of prisons. Her offence was that she overtook the convoy of the CG within the premises of the National Assembly.
“The CG of prisons is invited to explain why he should not be committed to prison in violation of Section 16 of the Legislative Houses, Powers and Privileges Act.”
The law stipulates a penalty of N400,000 fine or a prison term of six months on conviction for an attack on a legislator within the premises of a legislative house.
The resolution was later amended to include Danbazzau, who was asked to appear before the House Committee on Interior as he is the supervisory minister of the Nigerian Prisons Service.
The committee, which is chaired by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Kaduna State, Mr. Adams Jagaba, is to produce a report on Tuesday, next week.
The House Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, while contributing to the debate, informed the House that Mrukpor called him immediately the alleged assault took place to make a report.
“She called me and she was crying. I have not seen a thing like this before. This is the time we need to rally behind her not just as a member but as a woman.
“This is a clear, straight case; that the attacker is guilty of assault; he is guilty of battery. There is vicarious liability in this case”, Gbajabiamila added.
In addition to Danbazzau and Ekpendu, the House summoned the unit heads of all security agencies posted to the National Assembly to explain the conduct of their men, who reportedly watched as the member was attacked without intervening.
They include the unit heads of the police, Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Sergeant-at-Arms and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Security aides attached to the convoy of Mr. Ekpendu allegedly descended on Mrs. Onyemachi Mrukpor and slapped her for overtaking the convoy of the CG.
A motion on the incident, which was moved by the Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor, was unanimously endorsed by members at Thursday’s session presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.
“The member was battered under the watch of the CG of prisons. Her offence was that she overtook the convoy of the CG within the premises of the National Assembly.
“The CG of prisons is invited to explain why he should not be committed to prison in violation of Section 16 of the Legislative Houses, Powers and Privileges Act.”
The law stipulates a penalty of N400,000 fine or a prison term of six months on conviction for an attack on a legislator within the premises of a legislative house.
The resolution was later amended to include Danbazzau, who was asked to appear before the House Committee on Interior as he is the supervisory minister of the Nigerian Prisons Service.
The committee, which is chaired by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Kaduna State, Mr. Adams Jagaba, is to produce a report on Tuesday, next week.
The House Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, while contributing to the debate, informed the House that Mrukpor called him immediately the alleged assault took place to make a report.
“She called me and she was crying. I have not seen a thing like this before. This is the time we need to rally behind her not just as a member but as a woman.
“This is a clear, straight case; that the attacker is guilty of assault; he is guilty of battery. There is vicarious liability in this case”, Gbajabiamila added.
In addition to Danbazzau and Ekpendu, the House summoned the unit heads of all security agencies posted to the National Assembly to explain the conduct of their men, who reportedly watched as the member was attacked without intervening.
They include the unit heads of the police, Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Sergeant-at-Arms and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
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