Wednesday morning, 18th April 2018, hoodlums stormed the Nigerian Senate plenary and seized the Senate's symbol of authority, the Mace. Fingers pointed to an embattled Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta-Central.
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| Reported hoodlums making away with the Senate Mace |
The Senate had invited Senator Omo-Agege over his comments on the amendment of Electoral Acts, 2018, but in a bid to prevent his appearance before the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, it was gathered that Senator Omo-Agege sued the Upper Chamber. This acts according to report, prompted his suspension from the Senate.
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| Senator Ovie Omo-Agege seen escorted by the Police |
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, despite his suspension, refusal to appear before the committee and based on what he (in a statement signed by Lucky Ajos, identified as a Lawyer) termed "legal advise and understanding of the current position of the Law, resumed work and sitting with his colleagues", instead resumed duty at the Senate.
A statement released by the office of Senator Omo-Agege on Wednesday, 18th April, 2018, described reports suggesting that he personally removed or encouraged anyone to remove the Mace of the Senate as untrue.
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| Reported hoodlums making away with the Senate Mace |
“Senator Omo-Agege today resumed work and sitting with his colleagues,”
.... “a few champions of the unconstitutional, invalid and tyrannical suspension tried to stop him but those who opposed it welcomed and protected him throughout the sitting.”
The Senator instead offered to help the Police carry-out a proper investigation on the incident.
“Following media reports on the mace issue, the Police decided to hear from Senator Omo-Agege,”
... “He has told them his perspective to help them carry out a proper investigation. He has since left the Police. He trusts them to thoroughly investigate this very serious matter".
Nigerian Senate Mace found under Fly-over Bridge by a passerby:
The Mace was reported to have been found under a fly-over bridge in Abuja, Nigeria's Capital city, before the city gate.
A statement reportedly released by the Nigerian Police stated that Police was alerted by a passer-by, who found the Mace under a bridge.
Police Statement:
"Sequel to the invasion of the senate chambers of the national assembly, federal republic of Nigeria on the 18th April, 2018 by some suspected thugs who disrupted the senate plenary session and carted away the mace of the red chambers, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim K. Idris, immediately instituted a high-powered police investigation and intelligence team coordinated by the IGP monitoring unit of the force and further directed a total lock-down of the FCT with intense surveillance patrol and thorough stop and search operations at various police check-points with a view to arresting perpetrators and possible recovery of the stolen mace.
"The police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which forced the suspected miscreants to abandon the mace at a point under the flyover before the city gate, where a patriotic passer-by saw it and alerted the police..
"While a discreet investigation into the incident is still ongoing to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Nigeria police force appreciates the spirited members of the public, most especially motorists within Abuja metropolis for their support, cooperation and timely information during the rigorous stop and search operations for the recovery of the mace.
"The renewed commitment of the Nigeria police force to guarantee protection of lives and property, peace and stability and sustain democracy in the country remains unequivocal and unwavering".
Nigerian Senate Responds:
In order to prevent future occurrence and forestall breakdown of law and order, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in the company of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on nation Assembly, Senator Ita Enang, on Wednesday, 18th April 2018, briefed the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of the snatching of the Mace, Wednesday morning by hoodlums.
Ekweremadu stated that since Senate President, Bukola Saraki was not in the country, it is his duty to brief Vice President Osinbajo, since President Muhhamadu Buhari was attending the Common Wealth States meeting in the United Kingdom.
“I came to brief the Vice President to ensure that there is law and order in the country. “When there is this type of development it is important that he is briefed at the earliest opportunity.
“The Senate President is out of the country, so it is my responsibility to come and brief the vice president.
“And he has sympathized with us over what happened and he is going to join forces with us to ensure that we get to the root of the matter and make sure this does not happen again,
’’the invasion of the Senate “is a threat to our democracy’’. “
The invasion of the parliament is not acceptable to any person, it is not acceptable to me, it is not acceptable to my colleagues, it is not acceptable to the Vice President and I believe it is not acceptable to the President,’’
“I appeal to the media to help us bring an end to this brigandage so that people have to behave in a very responsible manner.
"But let me assure you that we are on top of the situation, we continued our sitting today and we are going to continue tomorrow,’’
On the Hoodlums: “I believe some of them have been arrested and we will get to the root of the matter,’’ .
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