On Tuesday, November 4, a resolution requesting an investigation into the purported unlawful and criminal distribution of Federal Government lands at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex plunged the House of Representatives into disarray.
Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos) sponsored the motion, which called for the formation of an ad hoc committee to look into the purported anomalies in the land.
However, the suggestion instantly caused MPs to get tense, which resulted in a contentious discussion on the House floor.
Kuye’s move was fiercely opposed by a number of lawmakers who said that the House Committee on Commerce should conduct the probe rather than forming a new ad hoc committee because the topic was under its purview.
After a voice vote, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who oversaw the meeting, decided in favor of Kuye’s proposal despite the objections.
Some members were further enraged by the ruling, accusing the presiding officer of bias and refusing to support later motions presented to the floor.
As some members started yelling at colleagues who tried to make additional motions, tensions increased. They insisted that no further legislative action should take place until the issue was reviewed.
The Deputy Speaker’s and senior members’ attempts to reestablish order were unsuccessful because disgruntled parliamentarians persisted in voicing their outrage over what they called procedural injustice.
The Deputy Speaker was compelled to summon an executive session in the midst of the commotion, momentarily halting the open plenary to facilitate private discussions meant to restore order.
The executive session’s specifics had not been released to the public at the time this report was filed.
According to reports, the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, which is situated along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, has long been the focus of controversy, with stakeholders accusing officials of fraudulent allocations and land racketeering.
The latest motion marks another chapter in the long-running controversy, one that has now triggered fresh divisions in the Green Chamber.
