Sunday Karim
Sunday Karim, a member of the House
of Representatives from Kogi State, is currently being prevented by the State
Security Service from boarding a flight at Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja, the lawmaker has told PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr. Karim, representing Yagba East
and West Federal Constituency, says he was on his way to the United States when
state agents suddenly seized his passport as he tried to clear immigration.
The lawmaker said he was scheduled
to travel by Air France, and that the flight was already boarding when he was
blocked.
Mr. Karim, a PDP lawmaker, said his
luggage had already been checked in before the incident, adding that he has
“absolutely no prior notice” that the SSS was on his trail.
It is not immediately clear why Mr.
Karim is being detained, but law enforcement agencies have recently focused on
the activities of lawmakers in the wake of the budget padding scandal.
The police, SSS, EFCC and other
agencies have been invited to investigate the scandal, which involved several
lawmakers, including the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara.
The House also faced embarrassment
recently after a petition by the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria,
James Entwistle, to Mr. Dogara accusing some lawmakers of sex allegations petition,
was leaked to the media.
The SSS could not be
reached for comments because it does not have any spokesperson that interacts
with the press.
Mr. Karim said he has been told that it was the EFCC that
requested the SSS to prevent him from travelling out of the country, and
strongly condemned the development.
“EFCC said I cannot travel. Nigeria
has become such a lawless country? If you have issues, you would call me and
get a statement from me.
“I find it difficult to believe that
we’re still under a democratic government.
“They have seized my passport and I
am going back to my house now,” Mr. Karim said.
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