Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; the Department of State Services (DSS) and others over an attack on her at the National Assembly.
Usman was attacked on December 3 by people suspected to be linked to the chairman of Ocean Maritime Solutions Limited (OMSL), Idahosa Okunbo.
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In a petition addressed to the IGP, the Senate President, and DSS Director-General, Usman explained that she was at the Senate on the said date to honour the invitation of the Joint Committee on Navy, Marine Transport and Finance to its public hearing on the Safe Anchorage Area of the Lagos Ports.
Usman’s visit to the Senate followed a motion on “illegal security activities by OMSL at the Safe Anchorage Area of Lagos Ports and the need to investigate their excesses” moved by Senator George Sekibo during plenary on November 7.
She explained that the committee had invited other parties, which included the Nigerian Navy and the OMSL.
“In the course of the session, Captain (Dr) Idahosa Wells Okunbo of OMSL, having made his submission, stormed out visibly angry breathing fire and brimstone. Following Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo outburst and abrupt exit, the Chairman of the Joint Committee closed the session,” she said in the petition.
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Writing further, Usman said: “On leaving the meeting room some hoodlums that accompanied Captain Okunbo to the hearing ambushed me at the exit door and tried to push their way towards me to physically attack me, raining abuses on me that I was taking food away from them and their boss, and that they will find me and destroy me.”
The NPA boss explained that it took the efforts of her security detail and the Executive Director, Marine and Operations of NPA, Dr Sekonte Davies, and security personnel deployed from the office of the Deputy Senate President for her and her entourage to leave the premises unhurt.
While calling for the full investigation of the incident with the intent of bringing the culprits to face the full wrath of the law, Usman said she takes the direct threats to her life issued by these hoodlums seriously.
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She added that Okunbo should be held responsible if any harm should befall her or any member of her family.
Usman described the action of the hoodlums as the height of impunity and disrespect.
