Uchenna Awom, media aide to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has refuted media reports alleging that the Abia senator disrupted Senate proceedings in protest over the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and demanded his immediate release.
In a press statement, Awom denied the report, describing it as an attempt to sabotage ongoing efforts to explore a political resolution for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
“The attention of the office of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has been drawn to a false and very misleading report alleging that he disrupted a Senate plenary session to demand the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu.
“The report is entirely false and, at best, a concoction that defies logic. It is a deliberate act of misinformation, insinuating a sinister motive aimed at sabotaging ongoing efforts to explore a political solution for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release,” the statement read.
Abaribe’s media aide further clarified that the senator was last seen on the Senate floor on Wednesday before travelling out of Abuja on Thursday for an oversight function in Ikwuano, Umuahia, Abia State, organised by the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
He explained that it is common knowledge that the Senate does not sit on Fridays, as its last plenary session each week is held on Thursdays. This renders the claim of a disruption on a Friday baseless.
Awom added that matters undergoing judicial processes are not debated on the Senate floor, noting that Nnamdi Kanu’s case is currently before the courts. As a rule, the National Assembly does not interfere in judicial proceedings.
“Therefore, Senator Abaribe could not have embarked on such an effort, knowing its futility. The truth is that he did not lead any protest or obstruct legislative proceedings.
“The public is therefore urged to disregard this fabricated report and refrain from sharing unverified information,” the press release further stated.
