The House of Representatives today resolved to summon the Controller General of the Nigeria Prisons Dr Peter Ekpendu to appear before its interior committee over the battering of a female lawmaker.

The decision was taken after a motion by minority leader Leo Ogor, who came under a matter of privilege to inform the House that some personnel of the prisons CG "assaulted and harassed" Rep Mrakpor Onyeamaechi Jona (PDP, Delta) on Wednesday.

The House said Ekpendu, who is due to retire next week, should appear before the committee to explain why he should not be committed to prisons for the action by his men, while "he sat in his car watching."

The House also summoned all the security agencies at the National Assembly gate including the Sergeant-At-Arms to brief the House on what they did when the incident happened.

Ogor said: "A member of this great chamber was leaving for a service, while the convoy of the CG Prisons was passing. She was blocked and an aide to the CG battered her car. One of the security officers slapped her on the face. The CG of prisons will sit in the comfort of his car, while a Nigerian is being assaulted?

"I don't want to give him the honour of appearing before this Hon House. It will be embarrasing to us for him to appear here.

He has clearly violated the legislative powers of the constitution. For the principle of fair hearing, we should let him appear before the committee," he said.

lalasticlala