The police may arrest the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, over Thursday’s crisis at the National Assembly in Abuja, it was learnt.
It was gathered on Friday in Abuja that the Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, had ordered that the Speaker should be “invited” over the crisis.
The Department of State Services was said to have given a similar order asking that the Speaker should be invited by any of its commands.
This was sequel to information that Tambuwal was sighted in Sokoto State on Thursday evening where had gone to pick the All Progressives Congress governorship expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2015 governorship election.
But the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said, the IGP had yet to give an “express order” for the Speaker’s arrest.
Ojukwu said the officers investigating the crisis would determine those to be arrested for prosecution.
A source at the police headquarters confided in one of our correspondents that the signal from the IGP’s office specifically directed the Federal Capital Territory and Sokoto State commissioners of police to invite Tambuwal and that if he resists, he should be arrested.
“The involvement of Sokoto State Commissioner of Police is likely because the Speaker was in Sokoto yesterday to pick the APC’s governorship form to contest the 2015 election,” the source said.
Tambuwal, has however reacted saying he is ready to honour any lawful summon by the Nigeria Police or any other security agency.
In a statement Friday night, Mr. Tambuwal reacted to reports that the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, had given instruction for his arrest in connection with Thursday’s commotion at the National Assembly.
“The Honourable Speaker wishes to state that he is a law abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has no immunity against arrest and prosecution except privileges as may be provided by the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act,” Mr. Tambuwal said through a statement by his spokesperson.
“Accordingly , the Hon Speaker states for the records that he is available, ready and willing to answer any lawful invitation from any of the Security agencies on any matter for which they may require his attention.”
The confusion at the lawmaking complex, which saw the police firing teargas at lawmakers and lawmakers scaling fences, was triggered by the police themselves after they blocked members heading to the chamber for plenary.
