Drama As Police Block DSS From Arresting Lawmaker-Elect
There was a mild drama in Anambra State House of Assembly complex on Thursday, as police blocked the exit gate of the Chamber to stop the Department of State Services (DSS), from effecting arrest of the lawmaker-elect for Nnewi North constituency, Onyekachukwu Ike.
Ike, elected under the platform of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), as a first timer during the 2023 general elections, is alleged to be evading arrest for sometime, after a popular business mogul from his community obtained a court order to detain him over a case.
The DSS officers, who were probably on the duty to effect the arrest had drove into the Assembly complex, having been aware that the incoming lawmaker was attending the House of Assembly valedictory Thanksgiving service organised by the outgoing 7th Assembly.
Narrating the incident, an eyewitness said, “There was panic at the Anambra State House of Assembly as four armed men suspected to be operatives of Directorate of Security Services (DSS) tried to whisk away member-elect for Nnewi North constituency, Mr Onyekachukwu Ike.
“The armed men drove into the Assembly complex in three vehicles and grabbed the member-elect after he participated in a valedictory thanksgiving service for the seventh Assembly.
“They bundled the member-elect into their vehicle and were trying to drive out of the Assembly complex when security personnel quickly blocked and locked the exit gate of the chamber.”
Acting Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs Esther Aneto, confirmed the incident.
She said the suspected DSS operatives did not inform them or even the police personnel before trying to whisk away the lawmaker-elect.
“One of the suspected DSS operatives explained that they had a court order to arrest the member-elect for Nnewi North constituency. It took the intervention of the Speaker, Dr Uche Okafor, and the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, who came to represent the governor at the Valedictory session of the seventh Assembly, before the member-elect was released”, she said.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the matter had been resolved.
“No cause for alarm, it has been resolved. I think it was DSS that was on that mission, but I think everything has been resolved. I was told that the deputy governor and speaker of the house intervened.
“So, everything was resolved but I don’t know the circumstances surrounding serving him (Ike) invitation. Since that place is an institution; with the intervention of the police there and the deputy governor, everything was resolved”, he said.
