The House of Representatives has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to name and prosecute the lawmaker identified as sponsor of secessionists in the country.
The lawmakers said that doing so was necessary, otherwise the President would make all the 469 lawmakers suspects.
Buhari, in his 61st Independence Day anniversary speech to the nation, said that his administration had identified sponsors of the secessionist groups and their leaders.
Buhari said, “The recent arrests of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo, and the ongoing investigations being conducted, have revealed certain high-profile financiers behind these individuals.
“We are vigorously pursuing these financiers, including one identified as a serving member of the National Assembly.”
Rising under matters of privilege at Tuesday’s plenary, the member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency of Delta State, Ben Rollands Igbakpa, said that his privilege had been breached by the President’s address.
Igbakpa said, “The President in his speech noted that one of us is sponsoring terrorism. That means we are prime suspects. He didn’t name that person.
“They have been calling me from all over the world. My friends have been saying who among you is sponsoring terrorists? All of us are prime suspects.”
Igbakpa, who described himself as a proud member of the parliament who should not be derided on the account of the President’s allegation, urged the House to prevail on the President to name the sponsors and prosecute them accordingly.
