Angry Lawmakers Turn Back Service Chiefs’ Representatives

Members of the House of Representatives yesterday turned back the representatives of the service chiefs and the inspector-general of police (IGP) who turned up for sectoral debate on security.

The House had invited the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, as well as the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun for the interaction.

However, at the plenary sitting of the House, the service chiefs did not come in person but sent representatives which the lawmakers rejected with anger.

This was as the deputy speaker, Hon Benjamin Kalu, raised a constitutional point of order by rejecting the representation of the security heads and instead postponed the session.

Kalu said the constitution empowered the House to invite any person to appear before it not only for investigation but also for dialogue.

“It is not satisfactory that they are not here in person. I want to move that these sectoral engagements be suspended until the service chiefs come to address us personally,” he said.

Ruling after the resolution of the House, Speaker Abba Tajudeen, commended the representatives for appearing in the chamber but urged them to convey the message to the service chiefs for them to appear Tuesday next week.