The leadership of the House of Representatives has resolved to look into alleged misinformation by a Plateau lawmaker, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, against Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and 39 other lawmakers, who paid Governor Siminalayi Fubara a solidarity visit in Rivers State.
Recall that Ugochinyere had led about 39 lawmakers on a solidarity visit to Governor Fubara, to attend the first anniversary of the governor in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital on June 2.
At the House plenary on June 4, Rep. Gagdi citing Order Six, Rule One, said his privilege as a member of the House was breached by the visit of some lawmakers to Mr Fubara.
He stated that Rep. Ugochinyere had issued a statement to the press on the visit, giving the impression that the lawmakers represented the House. He further claimed that the lawmakers were members of the Local Content Committee who were in Rivers State on an overnight assignment but used the opportunity to pay a courtesy visit to the governor.
But, countering Gadgi’s claim, Ugochinyere and 39 other lawmakers at the plenary on Tuesday, June 11, raised a point of Order 6 on matters of privilege of a malicious and false publication allegedly instigated by Hon. Gagdi.
Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, explained to the House that contrary to Gadgi’s claim, he and 39 other lawmakers went on a solidarity visit to the Rivers State governor.
Presenting proofs as reported by various national dailies, Ugochinyere said they went on their own and not on behalf the House of Rwanda, and joined Governor Fubara on a thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt to celebrate his one year of transformational leadership.
He also presented proof that they were not members of the House Local Content Committee as claimed by Gagdi.
The lawmaker, therefore, called for sanctions against Gadgi in line with the House rules.
Ugochinyere said, “Gagdi alleged that we went to port harcourt on oversight function as members of local content committee. If you go to page 38 of the directory the membership of local content committee, we are not members of local content committee, and Mr Speaker we did not go on any oversight function. A group of like-minds on our own not on behalf the house, went on a thanksgiving service in port harcourt to celebrate Governor Fubara one year of transformational leadership. This was published in several newspapers, Hon. Gagdi deliberately and maliciously spread falsehood on the floor of this parliament that we went for oversight function thereby committing contempt of parliament and misleading this parliament.
“All of us that went to Rivers state, went specifically for the sole purpose of celebrating with Governor Fubara, not politicization of oversight function. We are asking that this privileged that has been abused to be addressed in line with the provisions order 6 rule one and two and section 2 of the legislative privileges act, which states that any person who presents any false or fabricated documents with intent to deceive shall be guilty of an offense and liable to conviction for imprisonment for 12 months and also removed as a member of the legislative house.”
Thereafter, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Abass Tajudeen, who presided over the session, assured the affected lawmakers that the House leadership will intervene by inviting Gagdi to discuss the issue.
