Bomb scare: Ogun Assembly Bars Journalists From Covering Proceedings!

THE Ogun State House of Assembly has adopted recommendations of ad hoc security committee put in place after an improvised explosive device (IED) was detected within its chambers during the inauguration of the seventh session of the state legislature on June 6.



The six-man committee, which was constituted on June 7 to look into the security lapses in the House, under the chairmanship of Honourable Abiodun Ako-voyon, in its recommendation, which was adopted on the floor of the House on Tuesday, barred journalists other than those from the state-owned media houses from covering its proceedings.



It will be recalled that the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; his deputy, Mr Segun Adesegun and other eminent citizens of the state escaped death by whiskers, as the explosive was defused by men of the anti-bomb squad.



The committee also recommended that representatives of the government-owned media should be given access to the Assembly chambers, after they might have been identified by the House Information Department.



It also recommended that different name tags should be provided for the screened journalists expected at the chambers.



It will be recalled that the Oyo State House of Assembly had barred correspondents of privately-owned media houses from covering the Assembly.



The development, which followed some media reports considered to be negative, had generated wide condemnations from the media and other stakeholders.



The committee also recommended that members of staff and party members, who had no business at the chambers, should not be allowed in.



The Assembly also resolved that security operatives should always be invited to comb the premises and flashpoints, for detection of devices whenever there was major event in the Assembly