National Assembly fracas: Sambo summons IG

Vice President Namadi Sambo on Friday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, to the Presidential Villa, Abuja over the Thursday invasion of the National Assembly by policemen.

A fracas broke out at the National Assembly while security operatives were preventing the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, and some of his loyalists from entering the premises.

Sambo was said to have summoned Abba to explain the role of his men in the fracas after he (Sambo) had listened to the version of the incident as narrated by the principal officers of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The police boss was accompanied to the meeting with the Vice President by some senior police officers.

When State House correspondents asked him after the meeting if the order to invade the National Assembly came from him, he said ongoing investigation would reveal the roles played by each person in the fracas.

'Who did what and who didn't ‎do what will be disclosed to you later. You know we work with investigations, investigations are going on and the press officer will address you,' he simply said as he made his way out of the Vice President's wing of the Presidential Villa.

When further asked if he was insinuating that he was not aware of the operation before the fracas broke out, Abba insisted, 'I still repeat: who did what, who didn't do what,  you will hear later. It is subject to investigations. We just don't talk anyhow.'

As he made his way to his car, the police boss managed to grant another short interview in Hausa, claiming that he had never seen the actions displayed by some lawmakers on Thursday anywhere in the world.

He alleged that while somebody was pushing a policeman from a car, another person was seen removing roadblocks mounted by the police.

'Somebody was removing road blocks mounted by police. We have never seen this kind of thing in the whole world‎. So, we will talk to you later. Just wait, our findings will reveal,' he added.

Sambo had on Thursday evening met with PDP principal officers in the House of Representatives because President Goodluck Jonathan had travelled to London to attend a meeting of Nigeria's Honorary International Investment Council.

The lawmakers were led to the meeting by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha.

Other lawmakers in the delegation were the House Leader, Mulikat Adeola-Akande; the Deputy House Leader, Leo Ogor; and the Chief Whip, Ishaku Bawa.

Punch