The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) yesterday laid siege on the National Assembly protesting the continued detention of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
This is as the House of Representatives abruptly adjourned plenary proceedings over claims that the sect reportedly defied security and broke through the first gate leading into the complex.
The deputy speaker, Hon Yusuf Lasun, who was presiding over a Committee of the Whole, before the adjournment announced that reports had reached him that the protesters had crashed the first gate and was worried whether there was
adequate security on ground to contain them. Lasun stated that it was important for the House to take precautionary measures.
LEADERSHIP gathered that as the protesters advanced towards the gate, the security operatives swiftly shut the gate and beefed up security at the second gate. Protests by members of the IMN agitating for the release of their leader has been a reoccurring event around the National Assembly.
According to an eye witness, members of the group had threatened to force the gate open if the National Assembly leadership fail to attend to them. The protesters later descended on the gate shaking it violently in a bid to force it open.
The IMN members, it was gathered had embarked on a mass protest on Tuesday to commemorate their leader’s 68th birthday anniversary and to demand for his release.
Meanwhile, the House also resolved to probe alleged $27 billion oil revenue lost by federal government from 1999 to date, due to delay in the review of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act. Deputy House Leader, Hon Idris Wase while debating the motion, said the investigation became necessary in order to ascertain the position of federal government as stipulated in the information provided by the executive.
The House also read for a second time, the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act Amendment Bill which seeks to increase federal government’s share of the revenue accruing from oil exploration by 50 per cent.