The House of Representatives have summoned the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau(retd.) alongside the Controller-General of Nigeria Prison, Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu over allegations that one of his aides slapped a female lawmaker, Onyemeachi Mprakpor, for overtaking his convoy within the premises of the National Assembly on Wednesday.
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 House noted, “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 house after its deliberations, resolved to summon the Prison boss over the matter.
“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.
The Ministry of Interior supervises 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 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.
The Ministry of Interior supervises 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.
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.
Meanwhile the prison authority says it has begun investigations into the said assault on the female lawmaker. Spokesperson of the Nigerian Prison Service, Francis Enobore, said
“We were all present at the National Assembly on Wednesday with the CG. He had a long convoy, but we all left the place together at the same time and while we were at the place, there was no fight or quarrel between any of our personnel and anyone around. As we all left together with the CG, it is not possible for anyone of us to have jumped down from the convoy and went back to the complex to fight anybody.”
He said the prison boss has constituted a panel of inquiry into the alleged assault.
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