HOUSE CRISIS: POLICE ARRAIGN LAWMAKER FOR INJURING COLLEAGUE

By NBF News

The police on Wednesday arraigned a member representing Ehime/Mbaino Federal consitutuency of Imo State, Mr. Austin Nwachukwu over Tuesday's fracas at the House of Representatives.

He was dragged before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly inflicting grevious bodily harm on one of his colleagues, Mr. Chinyere Igwe.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the police accused the lawmaker of criminal conspiracy, criminal use of force and assault and causing grevious hurt contrary to sections 97, 248 (2) and 365 of the Panel Code law.

Meanwhile, the 11 suspended members of the House are putting finshing touches to challenge their suspension in court.

One of their counsel who disclosed this to Daily Sun, described the suspension as illegal as the rules of the House of Representatives could not supercede the provisions of the Constituion.

The embattled lawmaker who pleaded not guilty to all the charges was granted bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum. According to the Chief Magistrate, Oyebiola Oyewumi, one of the sureties must not be less than a grade level 16 officer with the Federal Civil Service, while the other must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. They are also to submit their passport photographs and swear to an affidavit of means.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Joseph Onwu had prayed the court to remand the lawmaker in police custody. But counsel to Nwachukwu, Aroh Chidi made an oral application for the release of his client on bail. The Chief Magistrate after listening to the submissions declined the request of the prosecution and addmitted the accused person to bail.

Definite hearing in the case has been fixed for July 29.