Representative of Delta Central senatorial district on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege today turned up at the senate after a Federal High Court in Abuja upturned his suspension by the upper legislative body.
Omo-Agege who was expected in the senate yesterday had failed to show up even after he had publicised his return.
The embattled lawmaker was seen signing the attendance register within the upper chamber.
The other lawmakers were in a closed-door session which began shortly after the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki had said the opening prayers.
Meanwhile, legislator has an appointment to keep with a committee probing the invasion of the Senate and theft of its mace.
It would be recalled that on April 18, the senate pointed fingers at the senator after some hoodlums suspected to be loyal to and working for him invaded the senate and made away with the mace.
The mace was discovered under a bridge in Abuja the next day.
In a statement issued after the incident, senate spokesperson, Sabi Abdullahi said: “Today, 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 mobilise 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.”
The joint committee of Senate and House co-chaired by Senator Bala Ibn Na-Allah (APC, Kebbi) and Rep Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers) announced that Omo-Agege, Senator Ali Ndume and the clerk of the senate, Mr. Nelson Ayewoh had been invited to appear before it.
Invitation letters to the two lawmakers were read during the hearing of the panel on Tuesday.
The letter addressed to Ndume reads: “Based on the testimony of the sergeant at arms before the committee, you (Mr. Ndume) is alleged to have prevented the mace keeper from taking away the mace to safety. The committee has, therefore, deemed it necessary to invite you in order to respond to that allegation”
Omo-Agege’s invitation reads: “Based on the testimony of the National Assembly Divisional Police Officer (DPO) the DSS and the sergeant-at-arms, you are alleged to have entered the National Assembly accompanied by seven persons, who allegedly took the mace of the Senate during plenary session on April 18, at about 11:30 a.m.
“All those who testified, stated that the said people were cleared into the chamber based on your confirmation that they were with you. The committee, in pursuance of this, has deemed it necessary to formally invite you to respond to these allegations on (today)Wednesday, May 16 at 11:00am”
A sergeant-at-arms official, Bello Mohammed, had told the panel that it was Ndume who asked him to leave the mace when the thugs struck.
