The House of Representatives has given the police
24 hours to return all documents relating to the 2017 appropriation bill
allegedly carted away from the residence of a senator, Danjuma Goje, who heads
the Senate committee on appropriations.
The House also condemned in strong terms, the
invasion of Mr. Goje’s residence by
security operatives on April 20.
This was due to a motion raised at the plenary by
Abubakar Ahmad (Gombe-APC).
A special team of officers from the Force
Headquarters, Abuja had on April 20 carried out a raid on
the Asokoro residence of Mr. Goje, a former governor of Gombe State.
The police are yet to give an official reason for
the raid.
While raising the motion, Mr. Ahmad said security
agents destroyed doors, bags, ceilings and soakaways and took away documents
including reports of the 2017 appropriation bill which was scheduled to be laid
before both chambers of the National Assembly during the week.
The proposed budget was initially slated to be
passed before the end of March 2017 but the Senate later gave a May 5 deadline
for the passage.
“The gestapo manner in
which the security agents invade private residences in the course of carrying
out their duties is causing apprehension in the minds of citizens”
“Unless steps are taken to
halt these extra-legal actions, the nation may descend a near fascist state,”
Mr. Ahmad said.
While leading the debate,
Mr. Ahmad also raised concerns that the budget may not be passed as scheduled.
“Now that the documents are
in their (the police) possession, how do we proceed?”
“We have to curb the
excesses of these security agents before it gets out of hand,” he said.
Also contributing to the
debate, Herman Hembe (Benue-APC) said it is unfortunate that a senator of the
federal republic will have his house broken into by security agents.
Mr. Hembe said he was
particularly worried for ordinary citizens if a senator could be so treated.
“We must condemn this act
in its entirety” he said.
He also raised concerns
that the money found in the house was inconsequential and doesn’t warrant such
action.
Betty Apiafi (Rivers-PDP)
concurred with motion. She said all Nigerians cannot be treated as criminals.
“It has happened to the
judges, it has now moved to the legislators, who knows what will happen
tomorrow?” she said.
Another lawmaker, Tobi
Ogechukwu (Enugu PDP), said if Nigeria has to practice democracy, rule of law
has to be adhered to.
“Just like Hitler did, they
have proceeded to the legislature and we cannot allow this.”
On a contrary view,
Muhammad Soba (Kaduna-APC) said the House should not enforce the law on behalf
of any arm of government.
“The principle of
separation of power is clear.”
“The executive has power to
arrest, investigate and predicate.”
He urged the house not to
interfere in executive duties.
The House unanimously
agreed to set up an ad-hoc committee to invite the Inspector-General of Police
to appear before it to explain what warranted the invasion and to tell the
House the laws that backed the force to carry out such operations.
The committee is to report
back in two weeks for further legislative action.
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