Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta central, has been barred from gaining entry into the Senate. Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce, the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, told The Punch that the sergeants-at-arm and security personnel had been ordered to block the lawmaker whenever he tries to enter the chamber. He said Omo-Agege had been blocked from entering the chamber on Wednesday but had forced his way in.
He brought thugs and the thugs broke the door down, broke the leg of one of our staff (members) and forced himself in. We didn’t let him in. He broke in and the thugs led him into the chamber. How can you ask why we let him in? We were not supposed to fight with him. We are no children.”
“He was not there the next day because we told the police that he was not allowed in. We have informed them officially that he is suspended. But that day, we didn’t let him in. He was stopped from going in, but the thugs beat up our staff (sergeants-at-arm) and broke the door down; that was how he got in,” he said.
Omo-Agege has however insisted to continue his work as a senator. He said: ”What happened is this: the jurisprudence in this area is very settled. The Court of Appeal in the Bauchi State House of Assembly’s case, the Dino Melaye’s case in the House of Representatives and the Ali Ndume’s case in the Senate; the courts made it clear and settled the issue, that a legislative house cannot suspend a member even for a day.
“That is the law and it has not been set aside. And this kind of judgment is for everybody. Even though I was not a party in those cases, the pronouncements are for the benefit of everybody. It is only the reliefs that are personal to those who went to court. Therefore, you don’t have to go to court to re-litigate these issues.
“If the issue was settled, it means that whatever suspension they issued is illegal, null and void. That is why I said I would go to work. I went in and took my seat.”
The embattled senator had allegedly led thugs into the senate chamber and forcefully made away with the mace. He was arrested and released on the same. The mace was recovered by the police on Thursday.
