Assault: Reps demand arrest, prosecution of prisons officers

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, approved that indicted officers of the Nigeria Prisons Service who allegedly assaulted a female lawmaker be arrested and prosecuted by the attorney general of the federation.

Adopting the report of the House Committee on Interior which investigated the alleged assault of Hon. Joan Onyemaechi Mrakpor (PDP-Delta), the House resolved that Senior Inspector of Prisons, Idaa Odey and Assistant Comptroller General, Usman Knagiwa be tried in accordance with Section16 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.

Also recommended for disciplinary action, reprimand and redeployment from the National Assembly for their complicity in the alleged assault are a female police officer, Corporal Esther Hassan, ASP Sunday Akoh and an agent of the Department of State Security (DSS), Adeboye I. O.

While advocating for the training and re-training of the personnel of resident security agencies deployed to the National Assembly, the House declared that the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2004, be amended to provide that only the President, Vice President, Chief Justice of Nigeria and a visiting President be granted access into the National Assembly with moderate convoys while penalties should be provided for offenders.

Moreover, the House advocated a complete overhaul of the office of the sergeant- at- arms, just as it resolved that all security officials currently manning the National Assembly gates, including staff of the sergeant -at – arms office be immediately redeployed from their duty posts.

The House Committee on Legislative Compliance was charged to ensure that within the next two weeks the resolutions passed are complied with and report back to the House.