Security agents at the National Assembly in Abuja
are conducting a stop-and search on the vehicles of some outgoing
senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Investigations by The PUNCH on Thursday indicated that security personnel got a directive to “closely monitor” the vehicles, usually in the possession of drivers and political aides, soon after the April 9 National Assembly election was concluded.
The tenure of the current legislature will come to an end on May 29.
Our correspondent learnt that the majority of the outgoing senators and members of the House of Representatives were still in their respective constituencies and were not expected to resume before May 3.
However, their aides and drivers were said to be driving in and out of the National Assembly complex in suspicious circumstances while their bosses were away for electioneering.
The development reportedly forced the bureaucracy of the National Assembly to introduce surveillance measures, including a random stop and search of the vehicles driven by the aides.
A National Assembly source told our correspondent on Thursday that “The legislative session is coming fast to an end and a new one is to about to start.
“We have to take stock of all National Assembly property; it is expected that all manner of movement will be taking place within this period.
“What is happening is just a proactive measure; nobody is being targeted for anything.”
Investigations showed that on Tuesday, April 19, some legislative aides had an altercation with policemen at the second gate of the National Assembly.
The row reportedly resulted from a protest by the aides, who were said to have opposed the insistence by the policemen to search their vehicle, a Peugeot 407 car.
When contacted, the Sergeant-At-Arms of the National Assembly, Col. Emeka Okere (retd.), claimed that the stop-and search was a routine exercise and not directed at senators and members of the House.
Okere clarified that a vehicle conveying a senator or member of the House would not be searched, as doing so could mean being disrespectful to their position as lawmakers.
“Nobody is searching senators or members; we can’t do that. These are men of honour.
“But, legislative aides? Yes, their vehicles can be searched in the course of routine security checks so long as their bosses are not inside the vehicles.
“Our men cannot search a vehicle if a lawmaker is inside”, Okere told our correspondent in a telephone interview in Abuja.
By John Ameh, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
Investigations by The PUNCH on Thursday indicated that security personnel got a directive to “closely monitor” the vehicles, usually in the possession of drivers and political aides, soon after the April 9 National Assembly election was concluded.
The tenure of the current legislature will come to an end on May 29.
Our correspondent learnt that the majority of the outgoing senators and members of the House of Representatives were still in their respective constituencies and were not expected to resume before May 3.
However, their aides and drivers were said to be driving in and out of the National Assembly complex in suspicious circumstances while their bosses were away for electioneering.
The development reportedly forced the bureaucracy of the National Assembly to introduce surveillance measures, including a random stop and search of the vehicles driven by the aides.
A National Assembly source told our correspondent on Thursday that “The legislative session is coming fast to an end and a new one is to about to start.
“We have to take stock of all National Assembly property; it is expected that all manner of movement will be taking place within this period.
“What is happening is just a proactive measure; nobody is being targeted for anything.”
Investigations showed that on Tuesday, April 19, some legislative aides had an altercation with policemen at the second gate of the National Assembly.
The row reportedly resulted from a protest by the aides, who were said to have opposed the insistence by the policemen to search their vehicle, a Peugeot 407 car.
When contacted, the Sergeant-At-Arms of the National Assembly, Col. Emeka Okere (retd.), claimed that the stop-and search was a routine exercise and not directed at senators and members of the House.
Okere clarified that a vehicle conveying a senator or member of the House would not be searched, as doing so could mean being disrespectful to their position as lawmakers.
“Nobody is searching senators or members; we can’t do that. These are men of honour.
“But, legislative aides? Yes, their vehicles can be searched in the course of routine security checks so long as their bosses are not inside the vehicles.
“Our men cannot search a vehicle if a lawmaker is inside”, Okere told our correspondent in a telephone interview in Abuja.
By John Ameh, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
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