…Activist Eholor Appears before Committee on Ethics and Privileges
By Okhide Em’ya David
Nigeria’s Senate has begun hearing in the allegation of assault on security guard, Clement Sagwak by Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman, Danladi Umar at Banex Plaza in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The Global President of One Love Foundation and human rights activist, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor led his legal team to attend the Senate hearing in support of the assault victim today.
The legal team, led by Barr. Samuel Ihensekhien presented the foundation’s case to the senate committee demanding justice for the assaulted security guard, Clement Sagwak.
The Senate had invited representatives of Clement Sagwak to a public hearing over their petition on the reported assault in Abuja by the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar.
The upper legislative chamber asked the lawyers to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public Petitions for a public hearing on May 5 (today).
The invitation letter was titled: ‘Invitation to a Public Hearing of the Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public Petitions in Respect of a Petition on behalf of Clement Sagwak against the Chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal Danladi Umar for Alleged Assault and Violent Attack on Him By The Chairman’.
The letter read in part: “I am directed to invite you to a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public Petitions of the National Assembly in respect of a petition you wrote on behalf of Clement Sagwark against the Chairman Code of Conduct Tribunal Danladi Umar for alleged assault and violent attack on him by the chairman and sent to the Senate.”
The letter, signed by Freedom Osolo, the committee clerk, also stated that “the matter has been referred to the committee for detailed investigation and further legislative action”.
The committee informed the lawyer that “oral, written and material evidence would be accepted in the course of the presentation over the matter”.
It said additional evidence should be made available to the committee before the presentation.
“You are by this invitation, required to appear before the committee to make a presentation in connection with the petition in reference.
“You may wish to note that oral, written and material would be accepted in your presentation in connection with your petition in reference. Ten (10) copies of all written additional evidence (if any) should be made available to the Committee before presentation, please,” the letter added.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of CCT was caught on camera physically assaulting Mr. Sargwak, at Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja, on March 29. The appalling incident, which went viral attracted public outcry, especially from human rights activists, such as Patrick Eholo, demanding justice for the victim.
In the five-minute viral video clip, Mr. Umar, who presides over the trial of public officers accused of breach of code of conduct, was seen slapping and kicking the security guard – after an altercation that ensued between them over a parking space on the premises of the plaza.
