EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
Men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and other security operatives barricading the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly complex have vacated the premises, following order by the Nigerian Senate.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Police on Friday ended their siege on the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, as all entrances to the complex which had been barricaded since Tuesday morning are now open.
The Nigerian Senate had on Thursday ordered the security agents, including the police, to vacate premises of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The Senate gave the order after an extensive debate during Thursday’s plenary sitting.
Senators put the matter to an open debate, before the resolution, for the police and other security operatives barricading the Assembly complex to vacate the premises, was reached.
The Senate also ordered the police and the other security operatives not to prevent the State legislators from having access to the chambers.
TNG reports a combined force of Police, Army and Civil Defense took over the entire complex of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, barring even staff from gaining access.
Senator Bassey Akpan, representing Akwa Ibom North-East in the National Assembly, citing orders 42 and 52, first informed the Senate of the development during plenary on Wednesday.
The Senate then directed its police committee to investigate circumstances surrounding sealing of the Assembly complex to find out what happened, and report back within 48 hours.
During Thursday’s plenary session, Senator Akpan again drew the attention of the Senate to the situation.
In his reaction, Senate President Bukola Saraki said, “This is a very serious matter and I think it is a matter that is non partisan. It is an action that is against the law that exists. Members of the parliament should have access”.
He further stated that the “Police can provide law and order without necessarily preventing members of parliament to have access. The police has the responsibility to maintain law and order but at the same time, parliamentarians must have access to chambers.
“We cannot allow this to happen now or in the future. A situation where the police can seal the chambers for more than 24 hours, is not something we should be a part of and not something we should support — irrespective of whoever is involved, I think we should stand for prosperity on the right side of history.
”The parliamentarians should still have access to the chambers there, or in any part of the country where we have a parliament.
“The police should vacate but still provide necessary security”.