Reps exchange blows

ELEVEN members of the House of Representatives opposed were summarily suspended yesterday, leading to the deepening of the crisis in the troubled lower-chamber parliament.

Consequently, some honourable members threw caution to the wind and openly engaged in a brawl.

Even some journalists were not spared as the aide-de-camp (ADC) to the Speaker seized the camera of Vanguard photographer Gbenga Olamikan while a reporter with Daily Independent Rotimi Akinwunmi lost his camera cellphone to a suspected security detail attached to one of the principal officers.

Those suspended indefinitely at the rowdy session which characterised yesterday’s sitting were Hon Independence Ogunewe (PDP, Imo), Austin Nwachukwu (PDP Imo), Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi), Ehioge West-Idahosa, (PDP, Edo), Doris Uboh (PDP, Delta), Solomon Awhinawi, (PDP, Delta), Abba Anas Mohammed (PDP, Kebbi), Gbenga Oduwaiye (PDP, Ogun), Kayode Amusan (PDP, Ogun), Gbenga Onigbogi, (PDP, Osun) and Bitrus Kazie (PDP Plateau).

Melaye and the other suspended members however vowed to challenge their suspension in court insisting that they were not given any opportunity to defend themselves.

"Everywhere in the world, it is an international standard to allow an accused the opportunity to defend himself, they passed the resolution without giving us fair hearing", Melaye stated shortly after he was moved out of the chamber.

Trouble began shortly after the Speaker called upon Hon Chile Igbauwa to move a motion under Matter of Privilege and urged the House to invoke Order 5 (1) sub Rules 2 and 3.

Igbauwa had hardly read through his prepared speech when Melaye rose to challenge him insisting that the motion cannot be heard.

"No, this motion cannot be heard, I say this motion cannot be heard", Melaye shouted repeatedly.

Moments later he started blowing a whistle apparently to pass a coded message to his colleagues to prompt them into action.

In the ensuing confusion, Hon Awhinawi moved towards the mace ostensibly to seize the symbol of authority, but was physically prevented by some unidentified federal lawmakers.

The legislators, mostly northerners immediately built human shield around the table where the mace was placed and urged the Speaker to continue with the day’s proceedings.

Elsewhere in the chamber some other unidentified lawmakers swooped on Nwachukwu, dealt several punches on him and then tore his clothes to shreads.

Nwachukwu was alleged to have hit another lawmaker, Hon Chinyere Igwe with a handy fire extinguisher can and badly injured his hands.

Both Nwachukwu and Igwe who sustained injuries in the fracas were rushed to the National Assembly Clinic Abuja for urgent medical attention.

Igwe whose right hand was badly wounded was however referred to the National Hospital Abuja for expert medical attention as the facilities at the National Assembly Clinic were said to be inadequate to handle his case.

As the House degenerated into a rowdy session, Bankole read a portion of the House Rule books to announce suspension of the 11 members.

The lawmakers however defied the speaker and insisted that they would not leave the chamber as their purported suspension was illegal.

There was an intense rowdiness and exchange of blows, as Ishaku Bawa, Chairman Outreach Constituency, Dino Melaye, Austin Nwachukwu, Doris Uboh, and Bitrus Kaze went for each other.

With the help of the Sergeant-at-Arm, Col. Emeka Okere (rtd) all the affected members, especially members of the Progressives, were physically dragged out of the chamber.

In the process, clothes of Reps Dino Melaye, Doris Uboh, Bitrus Kaze, Austin Nwachukwu, all members of the Progressives pushing for the probe of house budgets since 2008, were torn.

Following the forceful ejection of key members of the progressives, the House resumed plenary session at 11.45 am and the Speaker, apologised to all Nigerians.

"Hon. members, I sincerely apologise to Nigerians for this rowdiness. Hon. Chile Igbauwa, kindly conclude your motion for record purpose," Bankole said.

Igbauwa said by the provisions of sections 24 of the Legislative Houses Act, any ``person who publishes any statement, whether in writing or otherwise, which falsely or scandalously defames a legislative house or any committee thereof is guilty of an offence.

"Any person who publishes any act or conduct capable of bringing disrepute, disgrace and dishonour to the House, its Committee or any of its members or officials or which in any way impairs or may likely impair the dignity and power of the legislative house would constitute punishable contempt’’

Igbauwa said the action of Hon. Melaye and his group in the Progressives had embarrassed and cast aspersions on the House, ``as a House incapable of resolving itself. But you know we can’’.

He said while the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution guarantee the freedom of opinion and expression, such must be done within the context of procedure.

"The recent attacks on the speaker and principal officers of this Honourable House on television and the pages of newspapers, have cast serious dent on the image of this House,’’ he said.

Igbauwa moved that for failing to adhere to provisions of Legislative Houses Act and for taking their matter to the public domain with the view to maliciously bring the image of the House into disrepute, all the affected members should be suspended.

The motion, which was seconded by Hon. Garba Matazu (PDP-Katsina) was referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee.

Meanwhile, there was a brawl between the journalists covering the proceeding and the security agencies at the National Assembly, which nearly marred the plenary session.

Meanwhile, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, yesterday described the actions taken by a group of lawmakers seeking the resignation of Speaker Bankole as anti-parliamentary.

The group, tagged "Progressives"’, had given the Speaker a seven-day ultimatum to resign for alleged corruption.

The Progressives also submitted a petition to the EFCC on Monday.

But Eyiboh (PDP-Akwa Ibom), who briefed newsmen on the suspension of 11 members of the House, said the actions of the lawmakers warranted the indefinite suspension clamped on them.

He said the House took the decision in consonance with the provisions of the Legislative Houses Act of the federation which regulates the conduct of members.

"The action of the House is premised on the motion before the House, ‘’ he said.

Section 24 of the Legislative Houses Act states that any person who publishes any statement, whether in writing or otherwise, which falsely or scandalously defames a legislative house or any committee will face punishment.

It further states that any act or conduct inflicting or capable of bringing disrepute, disgrace and dishonour to the House, its committee or any of its members or officials or which in any way impairs or may impair the dignity and power of the legislative House would constitute punishable contempt.

Rep. Farouk Lawan (PDP-Kano), who described the situation that led to the suspension of the members as unfortunate, said the actions of the affected lawmakers had become a permanent irritation to the House.

Lawan said the members ought to have petitioned the House on the corruption allegation against the Speaker instead of going to the public domain.

On his part, Minority Whip, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila in his reaction to the events said it was unfortunate that the entire show of shame played out in the presence of secondary school students who were at the gallery on excursion to the House.