The Senate and House of Representatives’ joint ad-hoc committee investigating the April 18, 2018 Senate invasion and mace theft has recommended the immediate suspension of the senator representing Delta Central, Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege, for 180 legislative days over his complicity of in the incident.
The committee also recommended that Omo-Agege be prosecuted alongside six other suspects who allegedly accompanied him into the chamber on the day of the incident.
They include Tuoyo Mabiaku from Warri North local government area; Peter Orede, Warri South; Blessing Edjeke; Abraka in Ethiope East; Lucky Okomu, Oghara in Ethiope West, and Prince Enayemo – Ughelli South.
The director of State Security Service, National Assembly, Bulus Achi, had disclosed that the surnames of the suspects confirmed that they are of Urhobo, Omo-Agege’s ethnic extraction in Delta State.
They are to be prosecuted for treasonable felony, assault on the national assembly staff, conspiracy to steal and eventual theft of the Senate Mace.
The committee also recommended a total review of the national assembly security architecture.
It would be recalled that thugs suspected to be working for the senator accompanied the lawmaker to the senate chamber on the day of the incident browbeat the senators and made away with the mace.
They ran out of the chamber and left the National Assembly in a convoy of four vehicles with the senate’s symbol of authority.
The next day, the police announced the recovery of the mace under a bridge in Abuja returned it to the senate.
Thereafter, the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki set up ad-hoc committee comprising the senate and the House of Representatives to investigate the invasion and mace theft.
Apart from Omo-Agege, another senator, Mr. Ali Ndume was fingered to have hindered the mace keeper from taking away the mace to safety.
The chairman of the investigating committee, Mr. Bala Ibn Na’Allah, had issued a summons to the two senators at the committee meeting in Abuja.
Testimonies from heads of different security agencies within the national assembly had alleged Omo-Agege led seven unauthorised persons into the red chamber and disrupted plenary.
“Based on the testimony of the Sergeant-at-arms before the committee, you (Mr. Ndume) are 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.
“As regards to Omo-Agege, based on the testimony of the DPO, the SSS 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 Wednesday, May 16 at 11:00am,” said Na’Allah as he read out the format of the letter to be issued to Omo-Agege and Ndume.
