Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has issued a scathing response to lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi over threats of legal action regarding duty-free rice imports. In a strongly worded letter dated August 25, Omtatah flatly refused to apologise or retract his statements, maintaining that his remarks were made in the line of duty as a legislator.
Ahmednasir, writing on behalf of his client in a letter dated July 31, had demanded that Omtatah withdraw comments he made on the Senate floor on July 9. The lawyer argued that Omtatah’s statements alleging irregularities in the allocation of rice import quotas were defamatory and lacked factual basis. He warned that failure to retract the remarks within seven days would result in legal proceedings.
However, Omtatah dismissed the threats as baseless and contrary to the Constitution. “With due respect, your demands are not only devoid of legal merit but represent a fundamental misunderstanding of Parliamentary privilege, Constitutional oversight and the doctrine of separation of powers,” he wrote.
The outspoken senator defended his position by invoking Article 117 of the Constitution and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, which shield Members of Parliament from civil or criminal proceedings over statements made in the course of their legislative duties. He further cited the Defamation Act of 1970, which grants absolute privilege to accurate reports of parliamentary proceedings.
Omtatah also reminded Ahmednasir of a 2020 appellate ruling in his favour, which upheld the supremacy of parliamentary privilege in similar disputes. He insisted that his July 9 statement was made in the public interest, pointing out that local rice farmers were suffering while duty-free imports threatened their livelihoods.
“You state without proof that your client never received the quota. That is welcome news. I am certain the Senate Committee will be glad to hear it. That is the proper channel for your client to place its position,” Omtatah retorted.
The senator vowed to remain steadfast in raising matters of public concern, stressing that he would not be silenced by intimidation. He pledged to continue seeking transparency and accountability from the government through parliamentary oversight.
