Speaker of Parliament Alban S. K. Bagbin has stated that nothing untoward happened in the passage of the revenue bills despite the absence of the MP for Nanton, Mohammed Hardi Tuferu in the Chamber of Parliament.
The MP, who also a Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, was involved in a near fatal accident on his way to Parliament Friday night to take part in a vote on the financial bills that were under consideration.
He was driven to the House in an ambulance with the Whips on both sides of the house directed by the Speaker to confirm the situation.
Speaker Bagbin after the voting process clarified why the legislator was counted as part of the votes when the House was taking decisions on the Bills.
“Members who are incapacitated shall upon reporting their incapacity to the Speaker through the Clerk shall be recorded. We have some of our members that are incapacitated and what I did was to ask the Whips to go and physically see them to assess their incapacitation and whether they are of sound mind.
“I did not do anything untoward. I only followed the rules”, Mr. Bagbin stated, quoting Standing Orders 114 (4) to buttress his point.
Standing Order 114 (4) states that “Members who are incapacitated by some physical infirmity from passing through the lobbies shall, upon reporting their incapacity to Mr. Speaker through the Clerk, be counted and recorded accordingly in the House”.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Nanton MP who was rushed to SSNIT Hospital near Parliament, was discharged Saturday meaning.
