Abia State House of Assembly Calls on the Police in Abia State to Stop Killing Innocent Citizens

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Welcome to another Legislative Day in the 7th Abia State House of Assembly.

The Speaker, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji led Principal Officers into the hallowed chamber.

Rt Hon Ifeanyi Francis Uchendu, Deputy Speaker and Member representing Ohafia South State Constituency led the opening prayer.

The Abia State House of Assembly commenced plenary after the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 30th November, 2021.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Speaker announced that due to the reported resurgence of a deadly virus, the House will revert back to the wearing of nose masks during plenary.

MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Hon Thomas A.C. Nkoro, Member representing Obingwa West State Constituency brought a Matter of Urgent Public Importance to the House about extra judicial killings, harassment and extortion by men of the Nigeria Police in his Constituency especially by men of the Force at Ohuru Isimiri police station.

He narrated how one of his constituents, Mr Ugochukwu Chinyere, a young graduate was shot by men of the Nigeria Police in a fatal incident at their illegal checkpoint in Umukalika axis in Obingwa Local Government Area.

Hon Thomas A.C. Nkoro said Mr Ugochukwu Chinyere later lost his life in the hospital despite frantic efforts made to save him.

He also said that motorists in his constituency now live in fear because none of them knows the uncertainty that might befall them from the hands of the trigger happy policemen in their area.

He therefore prayed the House to urge the Commissioner of Police in the State to fish out the officers that committed this heinous crime.

He said the House should also advise policemen in the state to stop using live ammunition on innocent citizens.

Finally, he said the Commissioner of Police should expedite action by instructing his men to dismantle all illegal road blocks in the State.

RESOLUTION

After contributions from Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu, Hon Okey Igwe and Rt Hon Kennedy Njoku, the Speaker commisserated with the family of the late Ugochukwu Chinyere and prayed God to give the family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.

The Speaker therefore announced that the House was mandating the Attorney-General of the State to speedily step into the matter and find out the remote and immediate causes of the sad incident with a view to ensuring that justice is served in the matter.

Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji also implored the Commissioner of Police in the State to do the needful by constituting a panel that will look into the matter so that the officers involved in the killing will be fished out and subjected to the laws of the land for the sake of justice.

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

Hon Jerry Uzosike, Member representing Umuahia South State Constituency, invited the Speaker and the Honorable Members to the commissioning and handover of a bungalow built and furnished by him in conjunction with Ogechi Care Foundation for a widow and her four children.

The event is slated for Thursday, 9th December, 2021 at Umuajata Village, Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area.

NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF BILL

H.A.B. 49 : The Abia State of Nigeria Second Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2021.

A Bill for a Law to make further Supplementary Provision of the sum of N18,925,403,929 (Eighteen Billion, Nine Hundred and Twenty Five Million, Four Hundred and Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira) for the services of the Government of Abia State of Nigeria for the year ending 31st Day of December, 2021.

Accordingly, after passing through legislative processes and in a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Chijioke Chukwu, the Bill, H.A.B 49, passed First Reading.

Other items on the Order Paper were deferred to be considered on another Legislative Day.

ADJOURNMENT

Hon Solomon Akpulonu, Majority Leader of the House, moved that plenary be adjourned to another Legislative Day.

The Minority Leader, Hon Chijioke Chukwu seconded the motion.

Plenary was therefore adjourned to Monday, 6th December, 2021.

Courtesy: Media Unit, Office of the Rt Hon Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly.