From Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Interior investigating the assault of a female lawmaker, Onyemaechi Mrakpor within the National Assembly complex, has recommended the sack and prosecution of Idaa Odeh, a security detail attached to the Controller General of the Nigerian Prisons, Peter Ekpendu, who allegedly led the assault.
On Monday, Ekpendu appeared before the Committee and denied that he watched as members of his convoy assaulted Mbrakpor.
The House last Thursday, summoned Ekpendu to explain his role in the incident.
This is just as the Committee on Interior was mandated to investigate and report back to the House within a week.
The report of the Adams Jagaba Adams-led Committee also recommended that henceforth only the convoy of the President, the Vice-President and the Chief Justice of Nigeria should be allowed into the National Assembly. This is just as the re-deployment of a number of security personnel in the National Assembly was recommended.
The recommendations read: “From the testimonies of six credible witnesses, it is established beyond reasonable doubt that SIP Idaa Odeh with service number 40258 assaulted Hon. Onyemaechi Mrakpor and is therefore guilty of an offence under Section 16 of Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
“SIP Idaa with service number 40258 should be arrested and tried in accordance with Section 16 of Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, by the Attorney General of the Federation.
“He should be dismissed from the service with immediate effect.
“Corporal Esther Hassan, ASP Sunday Akoh of the Nigerian Police and Adeboye I. O. of the Department of State Service, should be disciplined and immediately reprimanded and re-deployed.
“Training and retraining of all resident security agencies in the National Assembly is needed.”
The report also recommended that the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act should be amended as a matter of urgency to the effect that the President, Vice President and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) or a visiting President can come into the premises of the National Assemblies in a convoy.
The report seeks a complete overhaul of the Office of Sergeants-at-Arms and that all Sergeants-at-Arms and other security personnel serving at the gates of the National Assembly should be re-deployed.
Other recommendations include that another prisons staff, the Assistant Controller General (ACG) Budget and Finance, Shehu Kangiwa, who came down from his vehicle and confronted the lawmaker are culpable under the Legislative (Powers and Privileges) Act and should therefore be disciplined.
The committee also recommended that Kangiwa be demoted, arrested and tried in accordance with sections 11 and 16 of Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.