Senate Protests Siege Laid On Ekweremadu’s House

Utazi Urged Senate To Demand The Security Operatives Withdraw

The siege that was laid on the Abuja residence of Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy President of the Senate, by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Department of State Services and men of the Nigeria Police has been protested by the Senate.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi, during the plenary, urged the Senate to demand that the security operatives be withdrawn from the lawmakers and the house should proceed ‎on their annual eight-week recess which was scheduled to start on Thursday.

The prayers were unanimously granted.

Lawmakers who spoke on the motion also criticised the APC-led government and security agencies for their alleged clampdown on perceived opponents.

Speaking, Dr Saraki said of the matter;

“As you know the seat of the DSP, Ike Ekweremadu is absent. He cannot get out of his house. He is being held under seige.”

“This morning I could not also leave my street as well because some people believed today’s seating must not hold because some members want to move or defect.”

“This is not something that started today. It will not end today. People have gone and come back, but these types of actions do not allow for such.”

“As we are speaking, our DSP cannot leave the house. We must save this democracy. People have free association. They can even move tomorrow. I am sitting here and 16 members have decamped or defected to one party to another and there has been no seige.”

“I dont believe that this should come to this level where people would be laid under seige for something that is personal to them.”

Senator Barnabas Gemade, however, prayed that the lawmakers first adjourn for 30 minutes to allow them to reconvene and adopt the Votes and Proceedings of the Tuesday plenary. It was unanimously granted.