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Tag: NASS invasion

  • DPO lied on NASS invasion – Mark

    DPO lied on NASS invasion – Mark

    Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday said the National Assembly Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. James Idachaba, lied over his claim that security details attached to the Senate President attacked the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, with tear gas.

    A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, entitled: “Mark’s Security Details Did Not Teargas Tambuwal, others” described the allegation as “absolute falsehood, dubious, vexatious, horrible and embarrassing.”

    The statement reads in part: “The attention of the office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to news reports alleging that security details attached to the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, were responsible for the use of teargas on the person of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tanbuwal, at the National Assembly premises on 20th November, 2014 and credited to Superintendent of Police, Idachaba James, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of National Assembly.

    “We wish to state without equivocation that the security details attached to the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, did not and could not have attacked the person of Speaker Tambuwal with teargas.

    “We find the reports credited to SP Idachaba that security details of Senator Mark attacked Speaker Tambuwal with teargas as absolute falsehood, dubious, vexatious, horrible and embarrassing.

    “The events of November 20th, 2014 are very fresh and any attempt to re-write or misrepresent them will not stand.

    “SP Idachaba James, who claimed not to have been present at the scene of the incident but only relied on hearsay, must not be allowed to embark on a name calling exercise.

    “It is also imperative to state that any attempt to create a needless feud between the two chambers of the National Assembly is mischievous and wicked.
    “For the avoidance of doubts, we hereby declare that the security aides of the President of the Senate did not attack Speaker Tambuwal with teargas.”

  • Senate probes police invasion of National Assembly

    Senate probes police invasion of National Assembly

    Police invasion of the premises of the National Assembly last week came under the scrutiny of the Senate on Wednesday.

    Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (Cross River Central) in a motion entitled: “ Breach of security at the National Assembly Complex” moved “that the Senate do consider the breach of security, privilege and sanctity of the premises and precincts of the National Assembly on Thursday, 20th November, 2014 occasioned by the presence of heavy security operatives.”

    After about one hour debate of the awful incident, the lawmakers resolved to constitute a seven-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the incident.

    Senate President, David Mark, named Senator Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna North) as Chairman of the seven-man ad-hoc committee.

    Other members of the committee included Senators Atiku Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi Central), Victor Lar, (Plateau South) Sefui Adegbenga Kaka, (Ogun East) Paulinus Igwe Nwagu (Ebony Central) Mohammed Jibrilla Bindowo (Adamawa Central) and Ehigie Uzamere (Edo South).

    Mark ,who said that the incident defied his comprehension, added that in whatever way they decided to condemn what happened, “it is a manifestation of where we found ourselves because what happened is simply beyond my own comprehension.”

    He said, “I agree with you that we set up a committee. What happened to us was the sacrifice we have to pay for democracy and the sacrifice we have to make for democracy.

    “That was what happened to me. The Speaker is in touch with me and I’m in touch with the Speaker and we have put all that behind us.

    “What we want is the strengthening of democracy in this country and whatever price we pay or whatever price we make to strengthen democracy we will do so.

    “We are appointing members from this House and we are not bringing anybody from outside and nobody is going to interfere in the work of the committee.

    “We want them to be very thorough, we want them to be very sincere and we want them also to bring the report as quickly as possible.”

    Ndoma-Egba in his lead debate, said that it is regrettable that the premises of the National Assembly was barricaded while the Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the

    House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, other Senators and members of the House, were prevented from gaining access into the National Assembly.

    He added that the Senate President, Speaker of the House, Senators, House members and National Assembly worker s were thoroughly tear-gassed.

    The police action, he said, led to the unfortunate situation of some House members scaling the fence.

     

  • PDP seeks investigation into NASS fracas

    PDP seeks investigation into NASS fracas

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for full investigation into Thursday’s invasion of the National Assembly by armed policemen and other security operatives.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and other lawmakers were tear gassed by the police, even as a number of the legislators had to scale the fence to gain access to the parliament building.

    Many are of the opinion that the move was targeted at Tambuwal, allegedly by the Presidency and the ruling PDP.

    However, the PDP, in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, called on the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to institute full enquiry to unravel the circumstances and facts surrounding the incident.

    The party gave Abba 72 hours to put the facts on the table.

    The statement said: “The sanctity of the National Assembly as an arm of government and citadel of democracy must be upheld at all times. The matter should not be shrouded in controversy, sinister plots and mundane accusations.

    “Whilst we acknowledge that due to the security challenges in the country, the security agencies are within their constitutional powers to search individuals and ensure that only responsible and duly accredited persons gain entrance into the National Assembly complex, we wish to state in strongest possible terms that the PDP is fully with the President in not condoning any act that might indicate that the police went beyond their bounds in the incident.

    “The PDP is known for its unwavering stand in upholding the tenets of democracy. Our stand for justice, fairness, and equity at all times remains undiluted. In the same vein, President Goodluck Jonathan has been very humble and forthright in upholding these principles and rights of citizens. He has instituted free, fair and credible elections and remains unwavering that his ambition does not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

    “We therefore believe that there is no need to shroud the development in controversy. In this regard, we call for a full investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident within the next 72 hours. Nigerians deserve to know the truth at all times.”

     

  • NASS invasion: IGP snubs Reps’ invitation

    NASS invasion: IGP snubs Reps’ invitation

    The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Abba Suleiman drew the anger of the members of the House of Representatives again on Friday when he failed to appear before the lawmakers to explain the rationale behind Thursday’s invasion of the National Assembly by the police.

    The House Committee on Police ‘invitation was however in defiance of the Senate President, David Mark’s directive that the National Assembly should remain locked until November 25.

    Mark’s pronouncement followed the invasion of the National Assembly complex by policemen and the subsequent prevention of Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, from gaining access to the Chamber.

    Rather than honouring the invitation, the IGP sent a letter to the Committee explaining his absence.

    He also sent the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), SL Wakama, to represent him.

    Extract of the letter dated 21st November, 2014 with reference number CB:3380/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL 8/806 and addressed to the Chairman of the Committee reads: I am directed to inform you that due to exigencies of duty, the IGP will not be able to appear before the House.

    “Meanwhile, he has directed the DIG Operations to represent him.”

    The letter was signed by a Principal Staff Officer, Austin Iwar.

    DIG Wakama was accompanied by two senior officers.

    The Committee was however resolute in its decision, stating that it was empowered by the Constitution to invite any individual or organization to aid its investigations.