My Security Details Did Not Teargas Tambuwal, Mark Says

The President of Nigerian Senate, David Mark has denied allegations that police officers attached to his office were responsible for teargasing Speaker, House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on November 20.It would be recalled that the Divisional Police Officer attached to the National Assembly, James Idachaba, had on Monday alleged that police officers working with Senator Mark were the ones who tear-gassed Tambuwal and other lawmakers in the wake of the security siege on National Assembly last month.Idachaba made the allegation while appearing before a Senate committee investigating the unfortunate incident.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Senator Mark’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the Senate president denied the allegations, arguing that his security details “did not and could not have attacked the person of Speaker Tambuwal with teargas.”Mark stated that the events of November 20, 2014 “are very fresh and any attempt to re-write or misrepresent them will not stand.He added that: “SP. Idachaba James, who claimed not to have been present at the scene of the incident but only relied on hearsay, must not be allowed to embark on a name calling exercise.”It would be recalled that few days after the incident, Mark had condemned the police for using teargas on lawmakers and members of the House of Representatives, describing the action as “barbaric,”It will be recalled that some Federal Lawmakers, including Tambuwal, were locked out of the complex on November 20, and in a bid to force themselves in, the lawmakers were tear-gassed by officials of the Nigeria Police Force.inside the House of AssemblyThe 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 Meanwhile, the leadership of the Senate after a protracted debate on the issue, 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 of the National Assembly complex on Monday.