The Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Obinna Anyanwu, says leader of the local legislative arm, Cynthia Nwala, was assualted because she made a forceful attempt to exit the legislative chambers with the mace, aided by a team of armed policemen and over 20 armed thugs she allegedly hired.
While denying an allegation by Nwala that he asked his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Chinedu Onyeche, to manhandle her, anyanwu said Onyeche only joined others in the council to restore normalcy after a scuffle amongst the lawmakers.
Anyanwu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Robinson Oluor, said a disagreement ensued among the lawmakers and the leader of the house attempted to go with the mace before she was intercepted.
The statement partly reads: “For the record, Hon. (Dr.) Obinna Anyanwu never directed his chief security officer to harass, intimidate or assault any serving councillor of the Etche Legislative Assembly.”
“The chief security officer to the council chairman is not a member of the Etche Legislative Assembly and will never be part of the internal issues of the Etche Legislative Assembly.
“The information made available to the Etche local government council has it that the Leader of the House, Cynthia Nwala, with the assistance of a team of armed policemen and over 20 armed thugs she hired, made a forceful attempt to take the mace, which is legislative property, and by administrative procedure is meant to be under the custody of the sergeant-at-arms.
“Some members of the Etche Legislative Assembly, who intercepted their House leader with the mace, alerted the chief security officer to the council, who was presently in Okehi, quickly intervened and restored sanity between Cynthia Nwala and her fellow councillors.”
Meanwhile, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, has confirmed the incident, adding that it was a case of assault.
He said, “I can confirm that the leader of the Etche Legislative Assembly was assaulted. Investigation has been ordered and we have invited the CSO.”