This came as Governor Yahaya Bello of the state, denied any crisis in the Assembly, saying the House had been carrying out its normal legislative activities without disruption or external interferences.
But contrary to the governor’s claim, the main entrance to the assembly complex was barricaded, by heavily armed policemen, preventing factional members billed to conduct ministerial budget screening from accessing the complex.
The road leading to the complex was also barricaded by armed policemen, who subjected staff of the assembly to scrutiny and only allowed them in upon confirmation of their employment status through their Identity Cards.
Vanguard gathered from one of the security agents at the gate that they were acting on the order of the Commissioner of Police, following a directive from the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
However, the factional Speaker, Umar Imam, who spoke to newsmen in Lokoja said, the action of the security operatives did not amount to seal-off, insisting that the Assembly was still performing its function.
According to him: “At our last sitting on Thursday March 24, we adjourned till April 12 to give room for budget defence. So we were not even sitting because we are on recess. “We are on oversight function to speak with MDAs for their budget defence. So, as far as we are concerned, the Assembly has not been sealed because it is still functional, workers are working in the complex. “By the time we finish with our recess and budget defence, we shall continue with other Assembly businesses.”
However, the Committee on Appropriation, who were to conduct their budget screening at the Assembly complex, relocated to the Government House to carry out its function, as the Committee met with the Ministry of Information, and two other committees yesterday.
