Assault on Lawmaker: C’ttee Recommends Dismissal, Arrest of Prison Inspector

Wants assistant controller demoted, prosecuted

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Interior has recommended the arrest, trial and dismissal of Idaa Odeh, for assaulting Hon. Mkrapor Onyemaechi.

Onyemaechi was hit in the face allegedly by Odeh for attempting to overtake the convoy of the Controller General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu last Wednesday at the gate of the National Assembly.

He appeared before the committee on Monday and denied touching the lawmaker despite being fingered by six witnesses.

The Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba-led committee in its report also called for the arrest, trial and  demotion of Assistant Controller General Usman Shehu Kangiwa, who allegedly banged the lawmaker’s vehicle.

Kangiwa did not honour the summons of the Committee on Monday.
In a copy obtained by THISDAY, the committee indicted security personnel serving at the gates, including the Sergent-At-Arms staff, and urged that they all be  redeployed.

“The Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act should be amended as a matter of urgency to the effect that only the President, Vice President  and Chief Justice of Nigeria, or a visiting president can come into the premises of the National Assembly with moderate convoy and penalties should be provided for offenders,” it read.
It also recommended the training and retraining of all resident security agencies in the National Assembly.

The report, which was submitted on the floor of the House yesterday would be considered by the lawmakers today.
Meanwhile a group, Anioma Youth Council, has demanded a public apology from Ekpendu for the conduct of his aides.

In a statement issued yesterday, the group chaired by Mr. Raymond Obuseh called on Ekpendu to visit Delta North which Mkrapor represents and apologise to the traditional rulers and the government of Delta State.
“We demand that letters of apology from the CG of Prisons be made in six national dailies,” the statement titled read.