FENCE-JUMPING SCANDAL: Nasarawa Attorney-General Lagi Explains What Happened

Mr. Innocent Lagi
Nasarawa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Innocent Lagi, recently made headlines for reportedly scaling the fence of the State House of the Assembly.
It would be recalled that, following the outcome of last Saturday's local government election in the state (when the All Progressive Congress won in six local councils, and the Peoples Democratic Party in four), the Assembly had summoned the Chairman and members of the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission to answer questions over the conduct of the election.

 Mr. Lagi obtained and attempted to serve the Assembly with a court order restraining it from interfering with the activities of the commission. He drove to the Assembly with two court bailiffs, but was prevented from entering by police officers at the entrance to the complex. The Assembly later accused the commissioner of scaling the fence to gain access and called for his arrest and removal from office.

Here, Mr. Lagi himself narrates what happened that day.
He denies jumping any fence and breaking any law. He explains that he had to work on Monday night, the day when the House of Assembly passed a resolution asking NASIEC chairman and members to appear before it. A case was filed on Tuesday morning, and an injunction was granted on Tuesday morning. Because of the urgency and shortness of time, he picked up two bailiffs of the court and went straight to the House of Assembly to effect the service of this notice.

Mr. Lagi says he was at the gate when the majority leader of the House of Assembly locked it to prevent the service of this order on them. The law, according to Mr. Lagi, says that even if the service was irregular, he would be allowed to do that.

He says there is no fence, but a gate, a barrier at the House of Assembly. And he admits going over that barrier in order to serve the process.

He further recalls that Hon. Orogu, a member of the House of Assembly, assaulted me, tearing his suit. Luckily, the police intervened and took him to the security room at the entrance of the House of Assembly. Then, he says, other members came out shouting and calling him a thief. So the had to take him away in the Personnel Carrier (APC).

He says members of the House of Assembly were trying to subvert the Constitution and intends to file a charge against whoever assaulted him.