Sufuyan Ojeifo
19 November 2008
Abuja — In response to a motion by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello in which she claimed to have suffered 'brutality' in the hands of security agents at a church service last Saturday in Ogbomosho,Osun state, the Senate yesterday mandated its Committees on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, National Security and Intelligence to investigate the case along with other cases of brutality of civilians by security agents in the country.
Obasanjo-Bello had come under Order 15 of the Senate Standing Orders (2007 as amended) to move the motion, which enjoyed the support of her colleagues.She narrated her ordeal in the hands of a security agent attached to her State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, saying, "it is an issue of assault by a member of the State Security Service on my person and I feel that giving the prevailing circumstances, I feel I should bring it to notice here on the floor."
Obasanjo-Bello decried the action of the state government-owned television station and other stations in the state, which, according to her, had been transmitting an edited version of the incident that did not show where the security man arm-twisted her.
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu , said in his contributions to the motion that the incident was condemnable.
He, however, pointed out that Obasanjo-Bello should have come under an Order of personal explanation rather than an order of breach of privilege.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Olurunminbe Mamora , however said that the floor of the Senate should not be used "to settle political scores." Noting that the matter was political in nature, Mamora advised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should explore political solution to it.
In her contributions, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Senator Joy Emodi stated that "It is very unfortunate; what happened was an insult on the psyche of the people of this country and Nigeria women in particular."
Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Nuhu Aliyu, in his contribution, stated that the Iyabo case was the second.
He said that Senator Suleiman Nazif also had a similar treatment in the hands of security agents in Bauchi State, even as he promised to engage the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) on the series of brutality against senators.
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