Representative of Njaba constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Uju Onwudiwe, yesterday, threatened to sue Samuel Otuibe (Ahiazu Mbaise) for attacking her with a bottle of wine and glass if the House failed to sanction him within seven days.
Otuibe had allegedly attacked Onwudiwe at a caucus meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Owerri recently.
In a petition to the Speaker, Chiji Collins, dated July 28, 2020, Onwudiwe said she was being pressured by family members and her constituent to seek legal redress over the incidence.
She said Otuibe’s action had damaged the reputation and integrity of the House of Assembly and urged Collins to handle the matter internally and expeditiously before it escalates further.
The petition reads, “Mr. Speaker, the unwarranted violent assault on me with a bottle of wine and glass at a meeting presided over by you, was a serious threat to my life, a violent conduct, abuse of my privileges as a lawmaker and gross violation of the House rules, which forbids any member from attacking a colleague no matter the level of provocation.
“I, therefore, bring this petition seeking your protection and pray that you invoke the House rules and direct the Ethics and Privileges Committee to investigate the violent act against me and sanction him accordingly.”
“However, may I state that if after seven days and nothing happens in respect of this petition, I will have no option than to file criminal complaint and civil suit in court to seek redress against Otuibe.”
When The Guardian contacted Otuibe, he insisted that he did not attack Onwudiwe as she had alleged, describing her accusation as an attempt to malign his image and personality.
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