Reps Want Dismissal For Official Who Assaulted Female Lawmaker

SAN FRANCISCO, April 26 (THEWILL) – The House Committee on Interior has concluded its findings after the investigative public hearing on the alleged assault meted against a female lawmaker, Onyemachi Mrakpor, and recommended the dismissal of Sergeant Idaa Odeh with service No: 40258, with immediate effect.

Odeh, one of the aides to Peter Ekpendu, Comptroller-General of Prisons, allegedly assaulted the female lawmaker, on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at the entrance of the National Assembly complex.

The Committee, chaired by Adams Jagaba called for the urgent amendment of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

“As a matter of urgency to the effect that only the President, Vice President and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) or a visiting President can come into the premises of National Assembly with moderate convoy and penalties should be provided for offenders,” it said.

“All the security personnel serving currently at the National Assembly gates including Sergeant-at-Arms staff should be redeployed.

“The ACG budget and finance who came down from his vehicle and confronted the Honourable is culpable under the Legislative (Powers and Privileges) Act and should therefore be disciplined.

“For refusal to appear before the Committee DCG Usman Shehu Kangiwa service number 28446 is guilty of Section 11 of Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and for obstructing a member of Parliament within the precincts of the National Assembly, he is guilty of Section 16 of Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

“He (Kangiwa) should be arrested and tried in accordance with Section 11 and 16 of Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, by the AGF. He should be demoted from the rank lower than ACG.”

The Committee in its 11-page findings also recommended the arrest and trial of Odeh by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in accordance with Section 16 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

Furthermore, the Committee recommended that Corporal Esther Hassan and ASP Sunday Okoh of the Nigeria Police and Adeboye I. O of the Department of State Services should all be disciplined, reprimanded and redeployed immediately.

The Committee further urged that the Committee on Legislative Compliance should ensure strict compliance with all the recommendations and report back to the House within two weeks.

Story by David Oputah