By Charles Nwoke :
The Ebonyi State Caucus in the House of Representatives has defended Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru against allegations of kidnapping and unlawful detention. The caucus, led by Hon. Iduma Igariwey Endo, urged the House to withdraw its resolution referring the petition against the governor to the Committee on Public Petitions.
During a plenary session in Abuja on Wednesday, Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga presented a petition accusing Governor Nwifuru of kidnapping Igboayaka, the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo Youth Leader. In response, Hon. Igariwey condemned the move, stating that it breached legislative privileges and violated constitutional provisions.
“Our privilege has been seriously breached,” he said. “A petition was presented against the governor of Ebonyi State, who enjoys constitutional immunity under Section 308(1). However, my colleague, without consulting us, escalated the matter through various media platforms, sparking public concern and confusion in our state.”
Hon. Igariwey questioned the House’s decision to entertain the petition, warning of its potential constitutional implications. He argued that allowing the resolution to stand could set a dangerous precedent.
“We all understand that a ruling from the Speaker is binding. Just last week, you ruled that when presenting petitions outside our states, we must consult the concerned state representatives. That did not happen in this case,” he added.
He urged the House to rescind the resolution and withdraw the order given to the Committee on Public Petitions.
“The House does not have the luxury of time for trivial matters,” he said. “Allowing this to proceed would be a legislative misstep and a waste of resources. We, therefore, request that the resolution be struck from our records and the directive to the committee be withdrawn.”
The House is expected to deliberate on the caucus’s request in subsequent sessions.
