The Senate on Wednesday directed its committee on National Security and Intelligence to conduct an investigation into the remote and immediate reasons behind the alleged invasion of the Ekiti Assembly by the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and report back within 2 weeks.
The resolution follows concern raised on the floor of the Red Chambers by Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP) Ekiti South Senatorial District that operatives of the Department of State Security Services on 4th March, did invade the Chambers of Ekiti State House of Assembly and were sporadically shooting into the air before arresting some members.
While describing their action as barbaric, she revealed that four of the House members were abducted and taken to Abuja.
“Concerned that at the end of the commotion created by this barbaric act, four members of the House of Assembly could not be found with news filtering in during the weekend that Hon. Afolabi Akanbi, the member representing Ekiti constituency was also abducted and taken to Abuja,”Olujimi explained.
In her lead debate, she posited that the action was not short of political vendetta by opponents of Ekiti State government, a statement that quickly drew the ire of Senator Isiaka Adeleke (APC) representing Osun West Senatorial District who maintained that such should not be concluded so as to allow investigation in order to unravel circumstances that led to the alleged invasion.
“Distinguished Colleagues, I think that the issue should not be conclusively alluded to political vendetta, but the Senate should allow investigation into the matter,” Adeleke moved.
Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe on his part further condemned the situation in Ekiti while recalling that such gestapo had happened in the 6th Assembly.
In his referral to section 14, he subsection 1, he espoused on powers and Privileges Act that no stranger under any circumstances shall enter premises of Legislative houses without the consent of the Senate President or Speaker.
“Mr Senate President, I want to refer to Powers and Privileges Act, section 14 subsection 1 which states inter alia: “No stranger shall enter into the premises of Legislative Houses without the consent of Senate President or Speaker and in this case.”, Eyinnaya averred.
Meanwhile, Bala Ibn’N’allah called for caution when issues of this manner affect Ekiti State, reasoning that the State in the past had shown disregard for the law.
“Distinguished Colleagues, let us be careful because Ekiti State with due respect had cause to beat a Chief Judge by thugs for political reasons, and so to me, the National Assembly should investigate to find out how it really happened,” N’allah maintained.
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