Senate mace controversy: House of Reps recommends prosecution of Senator Omo-Agege

The house of representatives has recommended the immediate suspension of Ovie Omo-Agege, senator representing Delta central, for 180 legislative days over the theft of the senate mace.

The house also recommended the immediate prosecution of the lawmaker and six other suspects for “treasonable felony, assault occasioning harm, conspiracy to steal and actual theft of the mace”, the symbol of authority of the parliament.

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The house made the recommendations after considering the report of the committee set up to investigate the mace theft.

In May, suspected thugs invaded the senate chamber and ran away with the mace. Read here

The hoodlums were alleged to be led by Omo-Agege who had attended plenary on that fateful day, despite being on suspension.

Both the house of representatives and senate subsequently set up a joint ad-hoc committee to investigate the incident.

During the house committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, Betty Apiafi, a lawmaker from Rivers state and co-chairperson of the committee, submitted the panel’s reports for consideration.

“Senator Omo-Agege actually asked the security people to allow the men (the thugs) to come in; that was why they came in,” she said.

“They came in and forced themselves into the chamber and overpowered the sergeant-at-arms. And you know the security operatives are not allowed into the chambers.”

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Some of the committee’s recommendations are:

• That senator Omo-Agege be prosecuted for incitement and breach of peace in the chamber of the senate and contempt ex-facie.
• That the Nigeria police preliminary investigation of the issue should be intensified with a view to bringing those found culpable into custody.
• That the Legislative House Act should be amended to clearly vest the power of maintaining peace and order within the chamber and precincts of legislative houses in the sergeant-at-arms of any house.
• That the Nigeria police investigation should be concluded immediately to allow for prosecution of the defaulters.