Find Out Who Tear-Gassed Tambuwal, Others At The National Assembly

The Divisional Police Officer attached to the federal parliament, Mr. James Ndachaba, has said the police officers from the FCT command, were not responsible for the tear gas canister thrown at the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal and others.

Punch reports that Ndachaba, who made the denial on Tuesday while testifying before the Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s ad-hoc committee of the Senate probing the November 20 National Assembly invasion by the police, said it was the security details attached to Senate President, David Mark, that was responsible for the tear gas canister thrown at the Speaker and his colleagues.

However, heads of other security and paramilitary agencies attached to the National Assembly disagreed with Ndachaba’s assertion as they stated that they were not aware of any Mark’s security detail throwing tear gas at Tambuwal.

But Ndachaba argued that he actually saw Mark’s security detail, whose name he did not mention, through a video recording, perpetrating the act.

Below are some excerpts from the conversation between the committee chairman and Ndachaba.

Makarfi: You wrote in your written submission that one of the security details of Senate President, David Mark, fired the tear gas. Are you saying that it is not the policemen under your command that fired the tear gas?

Ndachaba: With due respect sir, what I viewed on the screen showed that the police under my command dressed differently from those attached to the Senate President.

Makarfi (cuts in): I want you to be specific are you telling this committee that it is the security personnel of the Senate President that fired the tear gas?

Ndachaba: What I am saying is that the tear-gassing took place when the Senate President attempted to enter the chamber of the House of Representatives and there was a commotion which led to the injury of his aide-de-camp (ADC).

Makarfi (cuts in again): Are you saying that the tear gas was only fired at the entrance of the House of Representatives chambers? Are you saying tear gas was not fired anywhere within the premises of the National Assembly before then?

Ndachaba: I asserted in my report with you sir where I wrote that the tear gas might have exploded when attempt was made to disarm a police officer at the entrance of the main gate.

Makarfi: You are under oath. Here you have put in writing that the tear gas might have been exploded by one of the security details of the Senate President.

Ndachaba: Very well sir, I was not physically there but I saw it on the video clips which was aired by a television station. My submission was based on information and the video clips that I saw. I saw it on the screen.

Makarfi: This is a grievous allegation which you have submitted in writing. I want you to submit a copy of the video clip otherwise we will describe your allegation as hearsay.

It will be recalled that some Federal Lawmakers, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal, were locked out of the complex on November 20, and, following an attempt for the lawmakers to force themselves in, they were allegedly tear-gassed by officials of the Nigeria Police Force.

The police had initially issued a statement explaining that it acted on security reports that the National Assembly would be invaded by thugs on that faithful day when lawmakers wanted to convey and discuss either to ratify or reject President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the extension of emergency rule in the North-East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Senate after a protracted debate on the issue on the floor set up a committee led by Makarfi, the chairman of its Finance Committee, to probe the circumstances that led to the development and report back to the house in two weeks.

It was gathered that more than a week behind schedule, Makarfi commenced investigation into the police invasion on Monday.

It would be recalled that Senate President, David Mark, condemned the police for using teargas on lawmakers and members of the House of Representatives, describing the action as “barbaric,”