Chinese chamber replies Tunji-Ojo: Immigration officer hit by stray bullet from police

Friday, 28 March 2025 10:21

Chinese chamber replies Tunji-Ojo: Immigration officer hit by stray bullet from police

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The China chamber of commerce has rejected allegations that a security officer attached to a Chinese firm shot a Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) officer.

An infuriated Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, said the incident happened in Niger state last month and described the shooting as an attack on Nigeria.

Tunji-Ojo, who spoke on Thursday, vowed tough action against the Chinese firm allegedly responsible.

However, in a statement on Friday, Cui Guangzhen, director general of the Chinese commerce chamber in Nigeria, denied the involvement of any Chinese citizen or firm in the incident.

Instead, Guangzhen blamed it on the Nigerian police.

“Our attention has been drawn to the reports that Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior condemned the shooting of an immigration officer allegedly on the orders of a Chinese company operating in Nigeria in a briefing on March 27,” the statement reads.

“The China General Chamber of Commerce attaches great importance to the reports and carried out an immediate investigation.

“Based upon the findings of police authority in Niger State, the incident mentioned by the Minister of Interior happened on the 21st of February, 2025 in Minna, Niger State.

“During a police action, the state police force was trying to effect an arrest of some local citizen who was suspected of stealing iron rods from a Chinese company.

“When encountering stiff resistance of the suspect, one of the police officers fired a shot and the bullet accidentally hit a passerby who was later identified to be an immigration officer.”

Guangzhen added that Chinese companies in Nigeria abide by the law and are committed to the economic and social development of the country.

House of reps

Some lawyers have petitioned the house of representatives over the political crisis in the Benue and Zamfara house of assemblies.

Philip Agbese, deputy spokesperson of the house, submitted the petition on behalf of the petitioners during Thursday’s plenary session.

The Benue assembly recently suspended 13 lawmakers for three months for allegedly opposing the removal of Maurice Ikpambese, the state’s chief judge, whom they accused of gross misconduct and corruption.

The suspended lawmakers were said to have voted for Ikpambese’s removal but later dissociated themselves from the decision, citing procedural irregularities.

In Zamfara, the house of assembly has been embroiled in a crisis following the suspension of 10 lawmakers — six from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and four from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

These suspensions were initiated in February 2024. Eight members were initially suspended for alleged violations of the assembly’s rules, and later, the minority leader’s seat was declared vacant.

Presenting the petition, Agbese, an APC member, stated that the petitioners — over 200 lawyers — are urging the house to intervene in the crisis or assume the functions of the assemblies, in accordance with section 12 of the constitution.

“I bring to your attention a distressing petition received in my office, highlighting the precarious situation in Benue and Zamfara states,” Agbese said.

“The petition, endorsed by over 200 lawyers, fervently urges the house of representatives to take immediate and decisive action to safeguard democracy in Nigeria.

“Your excellency, I am afraid but the inaction of this parliament in the Rivers state affair led to the declaration of a state of emergency, a precedent that we must not allow to recur.

“If we continue to remain passive, we risk perpetually ceding our constitutional responsibilities to the executive, thereby reducing our role to mere rubber-stamp.

“Mr speaker, the alarming developments in Benue and Zamfara states, characterised by rampant impunity, anarchy, and lawlessness, as well as a blatant attempt to usurp the powers of a coordinate arm of government, demand our prompt and decisive intervention.

“The petitioners are, therefore, praying the house, after its investigation, to invoke section 11(4) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to urgently take over the functions of the Benue state house of assembly and the Zamfara state house of assembly respectively, with a view to restoring constitutional order, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring the protection of fundamental human rights in the affected states.

“Your excellency, time is of the essence, and I urge you to treat this matter with the utmost urgency and gravity it deserves. Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter.”

Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker who presided over plenary, referred the petition to the committee on public petition for further legislative action.

[Thecable]