Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal has responded publicly for the first time to the search of his vehicle in Kaduna as he made his way into Hotel 17 to attend an International Conference on security.
Tambuwal is said to have been miffed over the search of his vehicle but the Speaker addressing the issue publicly for the first time said he had been subjected to similar protocols and that he was not above the law.
“I want to tell you that I am not above the law. As recently as last week Wednesday when I was travelling to Paris, I subjected myself to screening by staff of the Air France here at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
“My luggage was requested to be searched, and I obliged them; I gave them my luggage. My physical person was frisked, and I allowed that happened without any resistance.
“That is to show everyone that I am not averse to being subjected to scrutiny or screening by constituted authorities.
“The difference between that and what happened in Kaduna is the fact that I was expected to enjoy some protocol and privilege as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria.
“Moreso, from the authorities established by law, several times that I go out of this country, I have been extended courtesies and privileges whereby even my own luggage were not subjected to that because I am the Speaker of the House.
“No one out there should have any impression that any of us here in the House of Representatives or in the National Assembly is above the law; that is not the message we are sending. What we are talking about is the institution of the legislature and not the individuals that are constituted in the Nigerian legislature.
“Thank you all for your support, and I thank every Nigerian for their concern on what transpired in Kaduna on Monday.”
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