Prison controller-general's security operatives beat up female House or Reps member

SECURITY operatives attached to the controller-general of the Nigerian Prisons Service Dr Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu beat up the female legislator representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State Hon Onyemeachi Mprakpor yesterday.

 

In the first such assault of its kind in Nigeria, Hon Mprakpor was beaten up as she left the National Assembly for overtaking Dr Ekpendu's 20-car convoy. Following the incident, a petition was written to the House of Representatives, which has promptly summoned the interior minister Lt General Abdulrahman Dambazzau over the attack on one of its members.

 

Yesterday, the petition was brought before the House of Representatives by the minority leader, Hon Leo Ogor. His report was corroborated by the majority leader Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, who added that Hon Mkrakpor had called him, crying, immediately the incident happened.

 

Hon Ogo said: “They blocked her car and started bashing her car. When she wound down the windows, an aide slapped her in the face and the controller-general sat in the comfort of his car while this happened."

 

Lawmakers claimed that Dr Ekpendu, a very senior government official, merely sat in his car and watched as his aides pummelled the female member. They alleged that he did nothing to stop his aides.

 

At its deliberations, the House of Representatives noted: “The member was battered under the watch of the controller-general of prisons. Her offence was that she overtook the convoy of the controller-general within the premises of the National Assembly, so the controller-general is invited to explain why he should not be committed to prison in violation of Section 16 of the Legislative Houses, Powers and Privileges Act.”

 

This law stipulates a penalty of N400,000 fine or a prison term of six months on conviction for an attack on a legislator within the premises of a legislative house. Later, the resolution was amended to include General Dambazzau, who was asked to appear before the House Committee on Interior.

 

Hon Gbajabiamila said: “This is the time we need to rally behind her not just as a member but as a woman. This is a clear, straight case that the attacker is guilty of assault, he is guilty of battery and there is vicarious liability in this case.”

 

In addition to General Dambazzau and Dr Ekpendu, the House of Representatives also summoned the unit heads of all security agencies posted to the National Assembly to explain the conduct of their men. Parliamentarians are not happy that security operatives reportedly watched on as the member was attacked without intervening.