Alleged harassment of National Assembly members: Kogi Govt. Arrests 6, bans unauthorized persons access to Govt. House

Six suspects have been arrested in connection with the harassment of some National Assembly members, who visited Governor Yahaya Bello at the Government house in Lokoja on Tuesday.

It was reliably gathered that, the National Assembly member representing Kogi East, Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho, had raised an alarm that he was harassed by some suspected thugs shortly after seeing Governor Yahaya Bello at the Government house.

The two-time serving lawmaker averred that, himself, Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) and other All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmakers from the state had gone to pay homage to the governor after the festive season.

Echocho pointed out that the thugs singled him out of other legislators and pounced on him, accusing him of being responsible for APC’s poor performance in the last governorship election in Kogi East senatorial district.

Reacting to this development in a statement on Wednesday by Onogwu Muhammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said the Governor has subsequently banned unauthorised persons from accessing the government house while calling for immediate prosecution of the culprits.

The statement said "The lawmakers from Kogi State, in the Senate and House of Representatives, had visited Governor Bello to congratulate him on the peaceful and credible conduct of the November 11 Governorship election and to pledge their unalloyed loyalty to him and the incoming administration.

"Shortly after the fruitful discussion, the governor received with rude shock the news of the harassment of some of the lawmakers on their way out of the government house and swiftly ordered the arrest of the culprits.

He charged security agencies to investigate the issue thoroughly ensure the offenders face the full wrath of the law.

On the Governor's directive to the heads of security agencies, the State said  “Information just got to me as I left the office to the residence that one man called Suleiman and others embarrassed Sen Jubrin Echocho in Government House. I’ve directed CSO to arrest all those involved in such stupid act and bring them to justice immediately. I will never condone act of hooliganism and indiscipline".

The members who visited Governor Bello on Tuesday were Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho of Kogi East, Senator Sunday Karimi of Kogi West, Rt Hon Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims of Ankpa Federal Constituency, Hon Zachariah Idris of Idah Federal Constituency, Hon Sani Abdulrahim Egidi of Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, Hon Abdulrahim Danga (PDP) of Okehi/Adavi Federal, Hon Gowon Haruna of Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency, Hon Tijani Ozigi of Okene/Ogori Federal Constituency, Hon Danladi Aguye of Lokoja/Koto Federal Constituency and Hon Salman Idris  of Kabba/Ijumu.

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