Kogi Assembly crisis: House of Reps grills IGP Arase

– The House of Representatives Adhoc committee on Kogi Assembly crisis quizzed Solomon Arase, the inspector-general of police, over the re-opening of the state House of Assembly complex

– Abubakar Malami, the Attorney ‎General of the Federation, was absent at the meeting but should appear in person on Monday, April 22

– Femi Gbajabiamila, the chairman of the committee, described the failure of the police boss to comply with the resolution of the House as breach of the Nigerian Constitution

– Arase apologized to the leadership of the House and explained that he solicited the advice of Malami on administrative issues

The House of Representatives Adhoc committee on Kogi Assembly crisis quizzed Solomon Arase, the inspector-general of police (IG), over the re-opening of the state House of Assembly complex.

Premium Times reports that the investigative hearing was conducted behind closed doors on Thursday, April 21.

Earlier this month, the House through a resolution directed Arase to seal off the Kogi Assembly until a peaceful resolution of the crisis that trailed the impeachment of Speaker Lawal Momoh-Jimoh was achieved.

However, the Attorney ‎General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, called on Arase to unseal the complex saying that a mere legislative misunderstanding between the legislators should not be taken to be a major crisis envisaged by the constitution.

READ ALSO: House of Reps summons AG, IGP Arase

The committee, chaired by Femi Gbajabiamila, the majority leader, described the failure of the police boss to comply with the resolution as breach of the Nigerian Constitution. He was also discontented with the absence of Malami at the meeting and resolved that the AGF should appear in person on Monday, April 22, by 2 p.m.

Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Gbajabiamila said:

“It was straight to the point; all the House wanted to know was why the resolution of the NASS was disobeyed and also why the state Assembly was reopened.

“The IG gave his explanation, saying he had sought the advice of the Attorney General and the Attorney General gave him his advice.

“I think we are making good steady progress and I think we would put this matter to a conclusion next week.”

However, Gbajabiamila noted that it was too early to make any conclusions.

READ ALSO: How I stoned policemen when I was a student – IGP Arase

“We are not there yet, as you know the hearing is a process. This is the first day and there are several sides to it. We have taken the deposition of the IG, the Attorney General will be with us on Monday.

“The resolution of the House was not to go back to status quo. The resolution of the House was to conduct a hearing to find out why it hasn’t happened and we are getting there,” he said.

Arase, who spoke at the end of the public hearing, apologized to the leadership of the House and explained that he solicited the advice of the AGF mainly on administrative issues. However, he added that there was a breakdown in their communication.

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