Senators Fight over C'ttee's Fund
'He slapped me... my eyes ache'
From Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja
There was pandemonium at the front entrance of the National Assembly Complex's White House yesterday when the Senate Committee on States and Local Government chairman, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo (PDP, Ogun West), and his deputy, Senator Isa Mohammed (PDP, Niger West), engaged in a brawl over the spending of the committee's fund totalling about N1.2m
The White House hosts the two chambers of the National Assembly.
According to eyewitness accounts, trouble began when Mohammed was said to have encountered Anisulowo at the lobby and accused her of spending the committee's funds without recourse to other members of the committee.
An eyewitness told THISDAY that Mohammed frontally alleged that "she (Anisulowo) withdrew N500,000 the first time and now another N700,000 without telling other members of the committee as if it was her personal money."
Anisulowo was said to have ignored these allegations and made her way towards the exit of the front entrance while an enraged Mohammed ran after her, drew her by the shoulder and gave her a dizzying slap. Her eyeglasses were said to have fallen off from her face immediately.
Mohammed was said to have been restrained by his Niger State colleague, Senator Idris Kuta, Abiola Ajimobi (AD, Oyo), Fidelis Okoro (PDP, Niger), Usman Umar (ANPP, Kano) from adjusting his babariga and giving Anisulowo another slap. Anisulowo's Special Assistant, Mr. Gbenga Olubodun, as well as a member of the House of Representatives were said to have shielded her from further attack.
When THISDAY contacted Anisulowo on her return to the National Assembly, she said, "I'm not in the position to speak now but I would only tell you to write whatever you have seen or heard."
Prodded further, she narrated her ordeal: "This is not his first time since we became members of the committee. The first time was when there was attempt to sack Senate President Adolphus Wabara, and I said the position of the South-west Senators was that the issue be set aside. He accused me publicly that my position was based on the fact that I wanted the Senate President to approve money for me.
"Before I could complain against him, other Senators cautioned him and he withdrew the statement. Then the Kwande Report which the Senate refused to debate. He did not follow us on the assignment but signed the report. However, when the Senate refused to take the report, he said I should go and bring it to enable him withdraw his signature. Since then, I stopped talking to him.
"In this instance, I had to travel to Geneva (for the Inter-parliamentary Union meeting) and I instructed our Committee's Secretary (Mr. Omolade Lawal) to buy my estacode which is $5000 from the committee's account. It was not my decision but that of the Senate leadership that instructed that we use our committee's funds. But before my return, between the committee's secretary and Mohammed, nothing was left in the account. I inquired from the Secretary and he told me Mohammed had collected the balance that was left and I asked why? Who gave instructions to you to release the money that was meant for local tours?
"Even the secretary has been failing in his responsibilities before now particularly on writing of minutes so I gave instructions that I can't work with the secretary again. He should be transferred. That was all. He slapped me and as I'm talking to you now my eyes are aching me and I just want to inform the Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, because I would take a legal action against Senator Isa Mohammed."
Speaking with newsmen later, Anisulowo noted, "We were going to pay a courtesy visit on the Vice President (Atiku Abubakar) and we had made all the preparations. I was coming from the vehicle and somebody told me that he (Mohammed) wanted to see me.
"So, I was glad and I was coming in to say to him that he was ready for the courtesy call on time when he slapped me. When he slapped me, I didn't do anything. I was provoked but what would I do? In the presence of everybody should I be replying (the slap)? He explained after why he slapped me. You can get the reaction from him why he slapped me.
"I've reported the matter to the police because I'm having aches on the left hand side of my eyes and I'm going to the hospital. So, I've told the police about it and they have asked me to make a statement. I've also told the Deputy Senate President (Mantu) about it before I now talked to you though I didn't tell him I would speak with the press.
"I would take a legal action against him (Mohammed). You don't have to bother yourself about that. I'm a notable and prominent person in Nigeria so for any man to slap me unjustly"...(she shook her head.)
Anisulowo's Special Assistant, Olubodun, later told THISDAY yesterday that her boss "had gone to National Hospital, Abuja, for treatment and police have brought her a statement paper for her to make her case."
Efforts to get Mohammed's reaction was abortive yesterday despite repeated assurances by his personal assistant that her boss would issue a statement of denial.
However, the Senate Committee on Information Chairman, Senator Tawar Wada, told newsmen yesterday that if it was true that Mohammed slapped Anisulowo "in relation to the functions of the Senate, then basically the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Privileges may have to come in.
"But if it has nothing to do with the business of the Senate, as I've said before they are on their own floor-rate."
According to Wada, "I'm not in a position to confirm or deny the allegation. I'm not in a position but whatever is the circumstance, if it is true and it's provable, it's regrettable. On the rule of the Senate, it depends on where the action took place."
When told that it happened at the front entrance of the National Assembly Complex's White House, Wada said, "They are on their own floor-rate. I don't think they were doing the business of the Senate but if it were in a Senate Committee Room or they went together on a particular job, then I think the whole thing need to be looked into."
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