TheCable

The Borno state house of assembly has accused Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno central, of slapping Bukar Daja-Ali, one of its members.

The house on Thursday alleged that Ndume slapped the lawmaker — Bukar Daja-Ali — at a political meeting in Maiduguri.

In a petition to the inspector general of police, Abdulkareem Lawal, the speaker, said the house had resolved to suspend legislative activities pending the outcome of the investigation into the matter.

But Ndume has denied the allegation, dismissing it as an attempt to tarnish his reputation.

In a reaction on Friday, he said it was misleading for anyone to “sit down and concoct such story”.

“I have said it before and honestly, the member is not telling the truth, there was nothing like that. I never slapped anybody at my residence,” he said.

“What happened was that the member came to my house with some hoodlums who began raining insults on me. Angered by their action, I went to them to demand why they came to my house to insult me and the lawmaker in question tried to stop me but I told him to leave me alone.

“I spoke to him in the presence of many people and left instantly. I’m surprised by this false report spreading.

“I was not the one who assaulted him. He was the one who came to my house to insult me. I challenge him or any other person coming up with this false claim to back it with concrete evidence.”

Ndume is yet to be recalled after his suspension by the leadership of the 8th assembly. He was accused of disparaging Senate President Bukola Saraki and Dino Melaye, lawmaker representing Kogi west senatorial district.