… As Senate Committee gives CCT boss 2 weeks to defend himself over alleged Assault***
The House of Representatives on Tuesday, pledged to liaise with relevant authorities to secure release of the abducted students of Greenfield University in Kaduna State.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila made the pledge at plenary after a delegation of the House interfaced with the protesting parents of the students in Abuja.
The newsmen report that on April 20, 2021, no fewer than 23 students and staff were abducted by bandits in Kasarami village, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Six of the abductees had been killed by the bandits, who also threatened to kill the remaining 17 students on May 4, if a ransom of N100 million was not paid.
Gbajabiamila referred the matter to the House Special Committee on Security and said that the House would immediately liaise with relevant authorities to secure their release.
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Briefing the House earlier, the leader of the delegation, Rep. Benson Babajimi (APC-Lagos), said that the parents, who were dressed in black, looked oppressed and dejected.
Babajimi who is the Chairman, House Committee on Defence, said that the parents’ hope of getting their children released, rest on the parliament.
According to him, the parents are asking the House to intervene and secure the return of their abducted children.
Babajimi urged the House to urgently intervene in the matter.
In another development,The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, on Tuesday, gave the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Mr Danladi Umar, two weeks to defend a petition against him.
The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Ayo Akinyelure, issued the directive when Umar appeared before the committee on Tuesday in Abuja to answer allegations of assault by a security guard, Mr Clement Sagwak.
Sagwak, a security guard had through his Counsel, Timzing Ramnap, petitioned the Senate, accusing Umar of alleged assault.
Newsmen report that Sagwak, 22, and an employee of Jul Reliable Guards Services Limited, told the Senate in his petition that he was assaulted by Umar and a policeman attached to him after he informed him (Umar) that his car was not properly parked.
He said the CCT boss slapped him several times and forced him to kneel down in the presence of people while performing his lawful duties.
Senator representing Plateau North, Sen. Istifanus Gyang, laid the petition before the Senate on April 29.
Umar, who appeared before the committee asked the panel to give him one week to study the detailed petition which was served on him at the session to enable him respond appropriately.
Chairman of the Committee, Akinyelure
said even though the Senate would proceed on a two-week break on Thursday, the Committee was prepared to reconvene during the break to hear the respondent, Umar.
The newsmenreport that a viral five-minute video had captured Umar and the guard having an altercation at the Banex Plaza, in Abuja.
Umar had in a statement denied the allegation and claimed that contrary to the content of a circulated video, he was a victim of an assault by people who chanted “secessionist and sectional slogans”.