Jide Babalola, the senior special assistant to Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege on print media, has been detained by the police for allegedly harassing a House of Representatives member Tolulope Akande-Sadipe at the premises of the National Assembly on Thursday.
An eyewitness quoted by Akande-Sadipe’s media aide Olamilekan Olusada claimed Mr. Babalola made advances towards the federal lawmaker who politely cautioned him not to bump into her in the legislative house’s elevator.
Recounting what purportedly transpired between the duo, Akande-Sadipe was quoted as saying “Please don’t step back because you would bump into me.”
Mr. Olusada claimed Babalola made statements like “Why would you talk to me like that?” “Do you know who I am?” and also laid claims to being 55 years old.
Akande-Sadipe, who also chairs House committee on diaspora affairs, described the incident as unfortunate.
She noted that she had never been this embarrassed before as a federal legislator, adding that the matter got out of hand when it should have been handled more maturely.
“We need to speak up against the discrimination of women and harassment women face in Nigeria,” she said.
However, a source in Omo-Agege’s camp told Qed.ng that the lawmaker displayed high-handedness.
“So this can happen in the National Assembly? A member of the House of Representatives, ordering the detention of an aide to the Deputy President of the Senate?
“Hon. Tolulope Akande-Shadipe just ordered the detention of the Senior Special Assistant to the DSP on Print, Mr. Jide Babalola for allegedly bumping into her at a lift at the House of Reps.
“Jide is currently being detained at the Police Crime Unit by the Presidential Gate, NASS on the orders of the lawmaker,” the source said.
