The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Omo-Agege

  • PDP stalwart backs Omo-Agege

    A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Mr. Peter Etareri Okorodudu, has called on the Urhobo to work towards the re-election of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in 2019.

    Etareri, in a statement yesterday, said Omo-Agege deservied re-election, saying the senator had given Delta Central the strong voice which, he said, had eluded the Urhobo at the National Assembly since 1999.

    Describing Omo-Agege as a vibrant, dynamic and visionary senator, who has the interest of the Urhobo at heart, he noted that he made his impact felt in the National Assembly.

    He said: ‘l am a member of the PDP and a true son of Urhobo land. When we want to talk about our representative at the Senate,  we should shun party sentiments and elect someone who we know can give our people the kind of representation that they desire.

    “In this regards, l am saying without fear of contradiction that Omo-Agege fits the bill on account of the qualitative and effective representation he has been giving to Delta Central.

    “Omo-Agege has carved a niche for himself as a very notable personality in the Senate on account of his vibrancy and the quality of the motions and bills he has been initiating on the floor of the Senate and we are very proud of the role he played in pushing for the signing of the FUPRE bill into law.

    “As the fifth largest ethnic nationality in the country, the Urhobo nation needs a man of Omo-Agege’s calibre to put it in it’s pride of place in the political scheme of things in the country.

    ‘At this time of our political history, the Urhobo nation does not need a bench warmer in the National Assembly. We need someone who can stand out a give the Urhobo people a strong voice in the Senate. That is why I am strongly of the view that Omo-Agege is a square peg in a square hole at this present time.

     

     

  • Alleged contempt: Saraki concedes, pays Omo-Agege’s entitlements

    *Case against Senate, its President withdrawn

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki has evaded the trouble of being subjected to trial for contempt as he conceded to the request for the payment of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s withheld entitlements.

    The information that Saraki has authorised the payment of Omo-Agege’s entitlements was made public on Thursday by his (Omo-Agege’s) lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN).

    Izinyon made the disclosure at the resumption of proceedings in the contempt case initiated against Saraki and the Senate by Omo-Agege, before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Omo-Agege (representing Delta Central) initiated the contempt proceedings over allegation that Saraki and the Senate refused to obey a portion of the court’s earlier judgment ordering that he (Omo-Agege), who was earlier suspended, be paid his entitlements.

    The Saraki-led Sanate had, earlier this year, suspended Omo-Agege, which suspension the court, in a May 10, 2018 judgement, set aside, ordered his reinstatement and the payment of all his accrued benefits for the period of the suspension.

    Omo-Agege later returned to the court with a contempt case against Saraki and the Senate, claiming that while they reinstated him, Saraki and the Senate withheld his entitlements in disobedience to the court’s judgment.

    On the last adjourned date, October 11 this year, Izinyon prayed the court to hear his client’s committal application against Saraki and the Senate, who were absent in court.

    But instead, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said he would give Saraki another chance to either “remedy the alleged wrong” or appear in court to defend himself, and adjourned to October 18.

    Read Also: Court grants Shittu’s prayer to serve NYSC processes

    On Thursday, when the case was called, Saraki was also absent. But he and the Senate were represented by a lawyer, Efut Okoi.

    Izinyon told the court that his client was paid his entitlements on October 12, 2018, barely 24 hours after the court elected to accord Saraki another chance to either right the alleged wrong or attend court to enter defence in the contempt case.

    Izinyon said after the last proceedings, he ensure that Saraki was served with the court order of October 11, along with a letter from his chambers informing him of Thursday’s date.

    He added that on the next day, on October 12, a Special Assistants to Saraki informed him that his client has nine cheques waiting for him.

    Izinyon said he received the cheques on behalf of his client and acknowledged receipt.

    He said Omo-Agege acknowledged that there was a shortfall of N6m when the cheques were handed to him, Izinyon said when notified, the Senate President’s aide acknowledged that the Omo-Agege’s claim was correct.

    He added that the Saraki’s aide admitted that the shortfall was from an error in computation. He said the error was promptly rectified and the N6m paid to his client.

    Izinyon said, with the development, there was unnecessary to proceed with the contempt case.

    He applied to withdraw the contempt case, and application Okoi did not object to, following which Justice Dimgba struck the case out.

  • Omo-Agege: Court to begin Saraki’s contempt trial Oct 18

    •Remedy alleged wrong or appear in court to defend yourself, judge tells Senate President

    A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has fixed October 18 for the beginning of hearing in the contempt proceedings initiated against Senate President Bukola Saraki by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege ((Delta Central).

    Omo-Agege initiated the contempt proceedings upon his claim that Saraki was withholding his entitlements, as a serving senator, following the court’s nullification of his suspension by the Senate.

    The Saraki-led Senate had, earlier this year, suspended Omo-Agege, which suspension the court, in a May 10, 2018 judgement, set aside.

    The court also ordered his reinstatement and the payment of all his accrued benefits for the period of the suspension.

    Yesterday, Omo-Agege’s lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN), told the court that his client’s application for Saraki’s committal was ripe for hearing.

    Iziyon prayed the court to hear the application since Saraki has allegedly chosen not to attend court or obey the court’s subsisting judgment.

    Izinyon, in the application, a Form 49, noted that while Omo-Agege was been allowed to resume at the Senate, Saraki had allegedly continued to flout the order directing that the applicant be paid all his entitlements.

    He said Saraki, in flouting the judgment, had refused to give an approval to the payment as ordered by the court.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said he would give Saraki another chance to either “remedy the alleged wrong” or appear in court to defend himself.

    Justice Dimgba agreed with Izinyon that his application was actually ripe for hearing.

    He noted that the court’s records showed that Saraki had been served with the motion on notice and hearing notice for yesterday’s proceedings through a newspaper publication made on September 25, as ordered by the court.

    Justice Dimgba directed Izinyon to write Saraki and the Senate’s Legal Department, informing them that the court has scheduled October 18 for the hearing of the contempt proceedings.

    The judge said: “”It is hereby ordered as follows:

    • That indeed from the records of the court, the Senate President, the alleged contemnor, was served with the motion and hearing notice by advertisement as ordered by the court at pages 35 – 36 of The Nation Newspaper of September 25, 2018; this motion is, therefore, ripe for hearing;

    *That in the interest of justice, and to give the alleged contemnor another opportunity to remedy the alleged wrong or even to appear to defend himself, and as a demonstration of the court’s commitment for justice, the court directs the applicant/judgment/creditor’s counsel to write to the alleged contemnor and the legal department of the Senate informing them of the next adjourned date;

    • That it will be useful out of abundant of caution that this letter is accompanied with a hearing notice being a court issued process.”

    Justice Dimgba thereafter adjourned to October 18 for “definite hearing.”

    The judge had, on May 16, 2018 dismissed the application by the Senate and Saraki, seeking a stay of execution of the May 10, 2018 judgment, which nullified the 90-day suspension imposed on Omo-Agege by the Senate.

     

     

     

     

  • Saraki must quit, says Omo-Agege

    DELTA Central Senator Ovie Omo-Agege said yesterday that Senate President Bukola Saraki should be ready to vacate office.

    Omo-Agege told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that Saraki, who on July 31, defected from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lacks the moral right to continue leading the Senate.

    He said: “Our demand has not changed, in fact, that demand has been accentuated by the directive of the APC national leadership.

    “We have all been enjoined as APC senators at a slightest opportunity to remove Saraki and once we are provided with that slightest opportunity, we will remove him and he knows that.

    “Absolutely, he knows he cannot be; we are not shying away from that. Our position has always been consistent.

    “This is not new neither is it news. We have made that clear, very clearly in the past.

    “Therefore, the position of Ovie Omo-Agege has the position of APC as a party.”

    On whether the members, who were aggrieved by the outcome of the primaries at various states might affect their plan, the senator said: “Well, that is something that we will need to address when we return on Tuesday.

    “We will take an audit of where we are in terms of the numbers, in terms of those who are happy and those who are not happy.

    “But you should understand one thing, just as you have people who are disgruntled in APC, you also have others who are disgruntled in PDP.”

    When asked if the aggrieved group had the number to remove Saraki, Omo-Agege said: ”of course, we have always had the number. We have the number.”

    On whether defection of members could affect their plan, he responded thus: ”Like I am telling you, as people are leaving APC to PDP, people are leaving PDP to APC.”

    He said as soon as the APC lawmakers in the red chamber have the number, the deed would be done.

    “Also yesterday The Presidency welcomed back the Senate and the House of Representatives members as they resume for legislative work today.

    Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), said: “Let me congratulate the Senate President, the Speakers, all presiding and principal officers and all the distinguished senators and honourable members of the House for a well-deserved annual legislative vacation and welcome them back to work.

    “Let them please appreciate that they are senators and honourable members of the National Assembly and the constitution entrusts the duty on then and they should please exercise this duty with the greatest show of patriotism.”

    He reminded the lawmakers of the request by President Muhammadu Buhari on the Supplementary Budget to provide for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other sources of funding which was still before them.

  • Omo-Agege rejects Emerhor’s petition to IG

    Delta Central Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has rejected the content of the petition written against him by Chief O’tega Emerhor.

    He decribed the petition sent to Inspector General of Polie Ibrahim Idris by Emerhor as “malicious”.

    In  a statement by his media assistant Efe Duku, Omo-Agege said the petition was part of the blackmail against him that led to the alleged smear media campaign painting him as having been indicted by the California Bar Association.

    “Yesterday, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, that the Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (The Obarisi of Urhoboland) plans to kill him. Although Emerhor’s petition is a shocking, malicious, wicked and brazen lie calculated to blackmail, embarrass and demean Senator Omo-Agege and smear his reputation, our Senator has nonetheless called for its proper investigation.

    “We note that many have reasonably asked why Omo-Agege would ever plan anything against a so-called political opponent who has no electoral value – one who has never won an election in his own polling unit.

    “Today, barely 24 hours after Emerhor’s wild, wicked, childish and laughable petition became a media show, a new lie, blackmail and campaign of calumny was launched against Senator Omo-Agege. The blackmailer wants the world to believe that Omo-Agege bears a criminal conviction from California, USA that legally disqualifies him from the 2019 Delta Central senate race.

    Alleging that it was a proxy game by his political rival, Omo-Agege said he welcomed a healthy scrutiny of the backgrounds of all aspirants for political office.

    Affirming that he was at one point accused of breaking the law in California during what he described as an illustrious legal career, Omo-Agege said he was cleared of the allegation by the Honourables Lance A. Ito (who presided over the popular O.J. Simpson murder trial case) and G. Magnera of the Court of California, County of Los Angeles

    “We are not altogether surprised that the electorally infertile self-acclaimed ’Supreme Leader’ of the Delta APC believes that the easiest and only way to win his first election is to first bring down his own brother with cheap blackmail, lies and judicial magic.

  • Emerhor’s allegations against me cheap blackmail, says Omo-Agege

    …says he was never convicted in a U.S. court

     

    The Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has described allegations by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor that he plans to kill him as a cheap blackmail.

    Also reacting to the allegation that he bears criminal conviction from a Californian court thereby disqualifying him from holding any political office, Omo-Agege described it as a worn-out lie that failed in every election season adding that it will also fail this time.

    Recalling the particular matter, Omo-Agege said he was only alleged to have broken the law in California but was later found innocent which ensures that he remain an active member of the State of California Bar Association.

    However, the Senator has called for a proper investigation into the allegations raised against him by those he alleged to desperate politicians grasping on unfounded rumours as a blackmail tool.

    The clarifications were contained in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja and signed by Prince Efe Duku on behalf of the Office of the Senator.

    The statement reads: “Yesterday, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, that the Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege plans to kill him.

    “Although Emerhor’s petition is a shocking, malicious, wicked and brazen lie calculated to blackmail, embarrass and demean Senator Omo-Agege and smear his reputation, our Senator has nonetheless called for its proper investigation.

    “We note that many have reasonably asked why Omo-Agege would ever plan anything against a so-called political opponent who has no electoral value – one who has never won an election in his own polling unit.”

    On the claim that he bears criminal conviction, he said: “Today, barely 24 hours after Emerhor’s wild, wicked, childish and laughable petition became a media show, a new lie, blackmail and campaign of calumny was launched against Senator Omo-Agege.

    “The blackmailer wants the world to believe that Omo-Agege bears a criminal conviction from California, USA that legally disqualifies him from the 2019 Delta Central senate race.

    “For this, the blackmailer has launched a cowardly proxy legal battle to stop Omo-Agege from returning to the Senate. But then, this is just a rehashed lie from a desperado who is in a hurry to do evil to benefit himself. A worn-out lie that has failed woefully in every election season and will also fail this time.

    “Yes, leaders should be held to the highest standard of accountability. The people do not knowingly entrust persons of tainted character with public leadership. A leader mirrors the image of the divine and ought to be as ‘clean’ as possible. Hence, we wholeheartedly welcome any healthy scrutiny of whoever leads or seeks to lead, including Omo-Agege.

    The statement continues: “To this extent, by way of ‘fair commentary’ only, we will speak to the non-existent criminal conviction knowing that the matter is now in court and therefore subjudice. We will meet the blackmailer in court.

    “The fact is, at a point in his brilliant and bright legal career in California, USA, Senator Omo-Agege (then a young attorney) was alleged to have broken the law in California. But in the end, he was found not guilty.

    “Accordingly, he was declared innocent by the Honourables Lance A. Ito (who presided over the popular O.J. Simpson murder trial case) and G. Magnera of the Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Omo-Agege had to fight hard for his innocence and God vindicated him against the expectations of evil men like the most sadistic blackmailer in the world.

    “Today, he remains an “active” member in “good standing” of the State of California Bar Association – what would be impossible if a valid and subsisting conviction were hanging on him. These are verifiable public facts and truths.”

    Read Also: Four remanded in Ekiti for alleged cultism

    The Senator also alleged that Emerhor was going too far adding that several attempts to defame will fail and the costs will be too much for him to pay.

    “We are not altogether surprised that the electorally infertile self-acclaimed ‘Supreme Leader’ of the Delta APC believes that the easiest and only way to win his first election is to first bring down his own brother with cheap blackmail, lies and judicial magics.

    “Always naïve and filled with venom to retaliate his shameful defeat by Delta’s most respected opposition political forces during the last APC congresses in Delta, Emerhor now appears just too desperate.

    “If not, he would have known that he will sink deeper into shame and self-destruct by picking futile fights of vendetta with the Most Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the Omo-Agege Dynasty. He will soon learn that the law is a great force against the machinations of evil men.

    “He has whetted the ground for extraordinarily huge legal battles that must stretch beyond his wildest imaginations. He started it; we will end it.

    “We are convinced that Emerhor, his proxies and their NDDC Executive Director sponsor know that they just cannot pull Senator Ovie Omo-Agege down.

    “They failed miserably in the past and this time will not be different. But then, there is still time for Emerhor and his co-travelers to repent and ask God for forgiveness.

    “They should learn that politics, especially amongst kinsmen, requires some restraint, wisdom and honour. Emerhor is going too far.”

  • Omo-Agege dismisses Emerhor’s challenge

    Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has dismissed threats to his second term aspiration from Chief Otega Emerhor, describing the potential challenger as an infantile political speculator.

    In a statement by his special assistant, Efe Duku, the senator said Emerhor had miscalculated and that his aspiration was an act of political rascality taken too far.

    He said: “First, it can only take Emerhor who worships every anti-Buhari machination to naively characterise Senator Omo-Agege’s fearless rejection of legislative impunity and tyranny in the senate and unqualified support for President Muhammadu Buhari as rascality.

    ‘’It can only take the envious Emerhor to talk down on the politically savvy Obarisi, who as a Senate candidate in 2015, scored almost 10 times more votes than Emerhor, who was a so-called governorship candidate.

    ‘’Only Emerhor with zero political leadership accomplishments can laughably dare to compare himself with Senator Omo-Agege, a formidable grassroots political leader and a one-time commissioner and secretary to the government of Delta State.

    ‘’Only Emerhor, who boastfully projects himself as the de-facto Supreme Financial Controller of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) can dare to start a race against Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the famous Agege dynasty with insult and arrogance as his best offering.

    “Emerhor’s decision to launch unprovoked attacks on his senator on the bogus claim that certain Urhobo elders and leaders purchased APC senate nomination forms for him to join the senate race may sound musical to his ears but that is a script of cowardice from the playbook of the ‘five fingers of a leprous hand’ infamy of ‘begging’ delusional characters to vie for elective public office. Urhobo are too sophisticated for such childish schemes.

    ”It should be noted that Emerhor is a man who argues and firmly believes that even if most qualified, Urhobo should be arbitrarily disqualified from the 2019 governorship race. He has again taken his disrespect for the Urhobo Nation to a new level by arbitrarily anointing some NDDC contract-seeking hangers-on as the “elders and leaders” of Urhobo.

    ‘’Unlike Emerhor, Senator Omo-Agege does not believe that to be an Urhobo elder or leader, one must be an unstable mind, liar, deceiver and violator of our traditional values.”

  • 2019: Omo-Agege, Kokori call for massive support Buhari

    The senator representing Delta senatorial district on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ovie Omo-Agege and former National Secretary of NUPENG, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, on Tuesday charged Urhobo nation, Delta State to give massive supports to President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief Great Ogboru in the forthcoming party primaries.

    Speaking at a gathering of APC members in Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta state, Omo-Agege said reelecting President Buhari and supporting Chief Great Ogboru as Delta state next governor will further enhance the development of the state.

    Omo-Agege said he is supporting Ogboru because of his believes that only him can win the governorship election, considering his track record on the elections he has contested and denied in the past years.

    He appealed to Delta Central people to support his re-election bid in the indirect primaries, saying that is the system that allows elected party executive members to be actively involved in the election of the candidates because of lack of credible register and security challenges.

    Read Also: Omo-Agege chides R-APC members, says Buhari unstoppable

    Omo-Agege said, “Today I speak as the Senator representing Delta senatorial district. I have come today to formerly inform you that I wish to serve Urhobo in the senate. Some Urhobo don’t want an Urhobo man for governor.

    “I support Great Ogboru for governor not because he is Urhobo but he has the most qualified, competent and popular person among those seeking the ticket of our party. We need Ogboru and Omo Agege to deliver President Buhari in our state “,

    Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, former National Secretary of NUPENG, who also drummed up support for the reelection of Sen. Omo-Agege, Ogboru and President Muhammadu Buhari in the forthcoming primaries, adding that Ogboru should this time be given the privilege, while Omo-Agege, Buhari be re-elected to continue their good work.

    Kokori said, “Great Ogboru has been in the struggle for the governorship, this time he will win. Let us all give them all the support for their victory”, he added. On his part, Chief Ogboru assured the state of a better deal when elected.”

  • Saraki, others, never supported Buhari in Senate, says Omo-Agege

    Senator Ovie Omo-Agege said yesterday that Senate President Bukola Saraki as the presiding officer, never supported President Muhammmau Buhari in the Senate.

    He said his exit from the ruling party would not lead to a major loss by the APC.

    He said: “Defections are bound to happen, mostly at this season. Those who left went to their natural habitat. These are people who had never supported President Mohammadu Buhari, especially in the Senate.

    “We are glad that they have gone, so you can see that those who are left now are those who will champion the cause of Buhari. We are not and have never regretted that they have gone, it gives us an insight to know the true APC members in the house.

    Omo-Agege spoke at an event in Emevor, Ughelli South local government area of Delta State, which was attended by  APC National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Delta State APC Chairman Jones Ode Erue and Partyy chief Great Ogboru.

    On which party holds the majority in the Senate he said “All I can tell you is that APC has 52 senators, PDP has 49, ADC 2, APGA 2 and there are two vacancies.

    “Those two vacancies will be filled on the 11th of this month and those elections are going to be held in our party (APC) stronghold; Katsina and Bauchi states. Even without those two seats, APC commands majority in the senate.

    “With respect to the senate president, he knows or he ought to know that the right thing for him to do is to step down. There is no way he can continue to lead the senate when he now belongs to the minority party and he knows that.

    On whether the mass defections will affect the reelection of President Mohammadu Buhari, he said, “I will tell you that as they are leaving APC, we also have people from PDP who are also coming, especially what is happening in Kwara State. While those in APC are going to PDP, those in PDP left to APC

    Minister of Infoormation Lai Mohammed speaking in Lagos at the weekend said the day Saraki lobbied the opposition party to become the Senate President, the relationship between the executive and legislature had been turbulent.

    “In fact, we could not have suffered more as an executive in the hands of the legislature if a PDP person had been the senate president,” he said.

    He denied the allegation of lopsided appointment in Kwarans by the Buhari administration. “No fewer than 24 indigenes of Kwara were given federal appointments of which I only recommended two while the Senate President recommended 20.”

    On those complaining of not being given “juicy appointments”, the minister said people complaining were not ready to serve and turn things around but eyeing what to steal.

    “It is not true that a particular part of the country is being favoured against the other. I challenge anybody to go to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and take out the list of appointees under this administration; you willsee that we have been fair to all.

  • Mace theft committee indicts Omo-Agege

    THE National Assembly ad hoc joint committee probing the theft of the Senate mace has concluded its sitting and may likely lay its report in both chambers today.

    The Nation learnt that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was indicted by the report, with the committee headed by Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah and Betty Apiafi rooting for a suspension and possible prosecution.

    A source close to the committee revealed that the panel may be basing its recommendation on relevant potions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges)  Act,  2017.

    “Contrary to a recent court pronouncement that the National Assembly has no power to suspend its members, the committee was convinced that Omo-Agege had breached sections of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges)  Act,  2017,” the source said.”

    Section 14(2) of the Act states : “Where a member commits a contempt of the Legislative House, the Legislative House may by resolution reprimand such person or suspend him from service of the Legislative House, without pay, for such a period as may be determined by the House, but not to the end of a legislative session”.

    Section 15 states : “A suspended member of the Legislative House under Section 14(2) of this Act,  shall not enter or remain within the chamber or its precincts while the suspension remains in force.”

    The source said: “After an extensive investigation and questioning of different security agencies and staff of the National Assembly, the committee allegedly found a glaring connection between the senator’s appearance on the said date and the disappearance of the Senate mace and therefore may be asking for a 180 days suspension for him.”

    Besides,  it was learnt that the committee may go further to ask for the prosecution of the lawmaker for Treasonable Felony.

    On April 18, 2018, some thugs gained entry into the Senate Chamber while it was in session and carted the mace away.

    The mace was found some days later around the Abuja city gate.

    An ad hoc committee was then set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mace theft and come up with recommendations to forestall a future reoccurrence.