Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has issued a strong refusal to apologize to Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi regarding comments made in the Senate about the importation of 500,000 tonnes of duty-free rice. In a letter dated August 25, Omtatah defended his statements, citing parliamentary privilege and constitutional oversight.

• Omtatah invoked Article 117 of the Constitution and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, which protect Members of Parliament from legal proceedings for statements made in either House.
• Ahmednasir Abdullahi had threatened legal action if Omtatah did not retract his statements, made on July 9, which he claimed defamed his client and lacked factual basis.
• The Senator maintained that his request for a statement from the Senate was made in the public interest to ensure transparency and accountability in governance regarding the rice imports.