Tambuwal: I’m ready for police ‘arrest’

Aminu Tambuwal, the speaker of house of representatives, says he is ready to be invited by the police over the fracas that broke out at the national assembly on Thursday.

Condemning the role of the police in the incident, the speaker said he remains a law-abiding citizen and would never be involved in actions capable of undermining the interest of the country.

Suleiman Abba, the inspector-general of police, had reportedly instructed the commands in the federal capital territory and Sokoto, where the speaker hails from, to get him arrested.

And responding to TheCable’s enquiry on the authenticity of the order, Abba had said it should be treated as “propaganda”.

However, Imam Imam, Tambuwal’s media aide, has stated the position of the speaker on the issue.

“The attention of the speaker, house of representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR, has been drawn to publications in the media to the effect that the inspector-general of police has ordered that he, speaker, be invited to the force headquarters and that he be arrested if he resisted,” Imam said in a statement.

“The speaker wishes to state that he is a law-abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has no immunity against arrest and prosecution except privileges as may be provided by the legislative powers and privileges act.

“Accordingly, the speaker states for the records that he is available, ready and willing to answer any lawful invitation from any of the security agencies on any matter for which they may require his attention.”

Tambuwal described the allegation of the police that he stormed the assembly with a crowd as false, accusing the force of poor conduct.

“The speaker expresses dismay at the unprofessional conduct of the Nigerian police in the attempt to stop him from accessing the house of representatives chambers on the November 20, 2014.

“Most disgraceful is the false statement later issued by the police in which they claimed that in the lawful exercise of their duties ‘Alh Aminu Tambuwal CFR arrived the venue with a motley crowd who broke the cordon, assaulted the police and evaded due process’.

“This blatant falsehood coming from a law enforcement agency that is expected to be neutral and lawful, is unfortunate, to say the least.”