The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, has warned that the 8th Assembly will not allow any political officeholder to undermine or ridicule the legislative arm of government.
Yusuf reacted to the appearance of the Coordinator of the Kogi State Social Investment Programme Agency (KOSSIPA), Hajiya Aishat Oyiza Omade, who finally honoured the Assembly’s invitation after months of non-compliance.
“She failed to honour several invitations sent by the committee overseeing her agency. The House had to step in to defend its integrity and authority,”; the Speaker said, referring to the Assembly’s Tuesday threat to issue a bench warrant for her arrest if she failed to appear by May 7.
According to Yusuf, Omade’s repeated absence had forced the Assembly to take a firm stand.
“We didn’t summon her lightly. She ignored the committee several times, and we had to come together to protect the institution. This House cannot and will not be ridiculed.”;
He added that her appearance was not to be mistaken for leniency, but a deliberate step to demonstrate the Assembly’s authority. “She was referred back to the committee she once ignored. She is not above them. This is to ensure they handle her case thoroughly.”;
The Speaker emphasized that the Assembly, regardless of its current eight-member structure, remains committed to carrying out its constitutional duties without fear or favour.
“There is no petition or established infraction against her yet, but refusing to honour lawful invitations is itself unacceptable. Her conduct was a warning to others — this legislature deserves respect,”; he stressed.
Responding to insinuations that the Assembly had been compromised, Yusuf said, “Nothing has exchanged hands. We brought this to plenary because we are serious about legislative compliance. We are not rubber stamps.”;
He also reaffirmed that the Assembly retains the constitutional right to summon any public official, including the governor if necessary. “She was screened and approved by this House. That gives us every right to hold her accountable.”;
Omade had previously failed to appear before the ad-hoc standing committee on special duties, legislative compliance, government house administration, and the Governor’s office, chaired by the House Majority Leader, Hon. Suleiman Abdulrazak, representing Okene I.
