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The Nigerian Senate has indicted suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of treason following his action behind the theft of Senate mace on Wednesday.
The Senate made this position known in a statement issued same day and signed by Senate Spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi in response to today’s incident in the Senate chamber.
The statement reads:
“Some armed hoodlums led by suspended Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, walked into the Senate plenary and seized the symbol of authority of the Upper Legislative Chamber, the mace.
“This action is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such.
“All Security agencies must stand on the side of due process and immediately mobilize their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the mastermind and the perpetrators of this act.
“This action is also an affront on the legislature, and the Leadership of the House has come to express their support against this action.”
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On his part, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki hailed his fellow Senators, saying they ‘stood in defence of democracy, parliamentary sanctity and constitutionalism’.
He expressed surprise that some hoodlums could invade the Senate chambers, forcefully take away the mace and assault some of the Sergeant-at-arms on duty.
He said he was delighted that the Senate stood up to them by disregarding what he termed “unreasonable and shameful action” and went on with the day’s business.
Saraki also commended Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and others, including members of the House of Representatives for standing in solidarity.
He stressed that the joint action of the upper and lower chambers is “a strong signal that we are always ready to defend our constitutional mandate and nothing will deter us from this.”
He assured that the Senate will get to the roots of this assault on democracy and that those who are responsible, no matter how remote, will be brought to justice.
