Lawmakers of the Anambra State House of Assembly have called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to caution the State Command over the sealing of the State Assembly.
The call is coming based on the recent closure of the complex, following the crisis that enveloped the assembly last week Thursday, after the failed impeachment of the Speaker, Hon Rita Maduagwu.
The lawmakers insisted that the command’s action amounted to attacking the symbol of democracy in the state.
The factional Speaker of the Assembly, Ikem Uzoezie, who spoke on behalf of the anti Maduagwu group in a statement made available to journalists on Monday in Awka, said that the leadership of the House never asked the police to take over the complex.
He urged the public to condemn the development, dismissing the police action as unnecessary.
The statement read in part: “The leadership of Anambra State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikem Uzoezie, followed by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Harford Oseke, the Majority Leader, Hon. Victor Jideofor Okoye and the Minority Leader, Hon. Onyebuchi Offor and others did not at any time request Anambra Police Command to take over, seal off and secure the entire premises of the House of Assembly as well as order the civil servants to report to vacate the premises.
“It is on record that there was no incident or semblance of any crises that occurred among the members or within the premises of the Anambra State House of Assembly to warrant the leadership of the House to request you (Police) to take over, seal off and secure premises of the Assembly of the Anambra State House of Assembly.”
They asked the police to unseal the legislative complex to enable them to carry out their lawful activities, unhindered.