Fake Journalists Arrested In National Assembly Complex

The alleged impersonators were discovered shortly after the appearance of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.

Men of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the National Assembly Complex Abuja on Thursday arrested three fake journalists on the premises.

The suspects, identified simply as Balarabe Umar, Joseph Andor and Ibrahim Bello, were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, National Assembly Division, Mr Abdullahi Sambo.

The alleged impersonators were discovered shortly after the appearance of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, before the joint Senate and House of Representatives’ Committees on Petroleum.

The budget defence session was held at Room 028 of the New Wing of the House section of the building.

Shortly after Sylva spoke to newsmen, the suspects, posing as journalists, allegedly accosted the minister to demand for gratification.

When attempts were made to stop them, the suspects threatened to beat up journalists, forcing members of the NASS press corps to invite the sergeants-at-arms and the DPO, who arrested the suspects.

Sambo told our correspondent via a text message at 8.08pm on Thursday that he would call back to speak on the arrested journalists, but had yet to do so as of press time.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Federal Capital Territory Command, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, however, confirmed the arrest.