Drama Drama Drama, as I read this I had mixed
feelings. So many things were fighting for attention in my brain. I was of the
opinion that....Hmmm.... Well.... Anyway, read on and let me see if I am alone
in my confusion.
ABUJA — The House of Representatives, yesterday,
summoned the Comptroller-General of Prisons, Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu, and the
Minister of Interior, Abdulraman Dambazau, to appear before its Committee on
Interior over assault on a female lawmaker, Onyemaechi Mrakpor, within the
National Assembly complex.
Also summoned to appear before the committee are
the security agencies within the National Assembly, such as Department of State
Service, DSS; Nigeria Police; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC;
Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and Sergeant-at-Arms, who were said to be
watching when the alleged assault took place in the presence of the Prisons
Comptroller-General.
The House mandated the committee to expedite action
on the investigation so as to submit its report on Tuesday, April 26, 2016,
even as it called for the immediate sack of the CGP, despite its resolution to
give him fair hearing.
How it happened Mrakpor was said to have been
slapped by an officer in the convoy of the CGP for allegedly not giving way to
the convoy of the CGP who had come to the National Assembly on invitation by
the Uzoma Nkem-Abonta-led Public Petition Committee over allegation of fraud
against him by an officer.
It was gathered that when the vehicle of the
lawmaker overtook the CGP’s convoy, she was flagged down and as she stopped and
wound down the vehicle glass to know what was the issue, the aide allegedly
slapped her in front of the CGP who was said to be inside his vehicle watching
the assault.
The House in its resolution on a motion of urgent
public importance, sponsored by the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, said the action
of the CGP, who is expected to commence terminal leave in a few days, was
tantamount to assault, battery, inflicting of bodily harm as well as violation
of the right of the woman.
The Minority Leader, whose point of order was on
issue of privilege, said the assault of the member was in breach of Section 16
of the House rules.
Ogor described the scenario as embarrassing to the
National Assembly and that in the spirit of fair hearing, the CGP should be
invited to explain why he should not be relieved of his duty.
Contributing to the motion, the House Leader, Femi
Gbajabiamila, said Mrakpor, who represents Aniocha/Oshimili Federal
Constituency of Delta State, was crying when she called to inform him of the
incident.
He said: “This is the time we need to rally behind
her not just because she is a member but because she is a human being and a
woman. “I am not interested in the issue of fair hearing. The man, as far as I
am concerned, is guilty of assault, battery, bodily harm and violence against
women.”
Also, Nnena Elendu Ukeje, representing Bende
Federal Constituency of Abia State, said what happened to the lawmaker was a
typical example of what women and the entire Nigerians pass through in the
hands of those in uniform.
My ordeal—Mrakpor Speaking to Vanguard, explained
that she was going for mid-week service at about 4 pm, adding that because
there were two lanes, she decided to overtake three green vehicles. She said as
her vehicle overtook the convoy, some of the vehicles in the convoy moved to
her right side and told her she was supposed to give way for the convoy of the
CGP.
According to her, “initially, I thought that my
vehicle hit them, then I just wound down to apologise. When they saw it was a
woman, they called me a useless prostitute, don’t you know that this is the
convoy of the Comptroller General of Prisons.”
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