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Tag: Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege

  • My re-election victory remains valid, legitimate – Sen. Omo-Agege

    Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta-APC) has restated that his reelection victory in the Feb. 23 National Assembly poll remains valid and legitimate.

    Omo-Agege, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, said this on Saturday in a statement by Godwin Anaughe, his Senior Special Assistant, Communications and Strategy, in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Court of Appeal, Benin, had on March 29, upheld the earlier judgment delivered by the Asaba Federal High Court which nullified the Jones Erue-led APC state executive committee.

    Omo-Agege and Rev. Francis Waive had earlier filed an application seeking the leave of court to join as parties to the appeal, on behalf of themselves and other candidates of the APC, against the judgment of the Asaba court.

    Reacting, the lawmaker said it was instructive to note that the ruling delivered by the Court of Appeal only struck out the application on the ground that they cannot appeal the judgment as individuals since they were both members of APC who can appeal the judgment on their behalf.

    According to him, the APC has already filed an appeal against the judgment.

    Omo-Agege, who said that the Benin Appeal Court ”has not and did not determine the appeal filed before it by the APC”, reiterated that the consent judgment delivered by Justice A.I. Chikere of the Abuja Federal High Court was still valid and subsisting.

    Read also: 9th NASS: APC zones Senate key offices

    ”And all the recent happenings in court have neither invalidated nor set aside the consent judgement.

    ”Therefore, the Prophet Jones Erue-led Exco remains the authentic and legitimate APC Executive Committee of Delta, so also are all the candidates of APC in the just-concluded 2019 General Elections,” he said.

    According to him, it is settled law that a court cannot make a finding that will be prejudicial against a person that is neither before it nor a party to the case and cannot in the same vain grant a relief which will affect a person who is not a party in the suit.

    ”OKONKWO vs. OKAGBUE (1994) 9 NWLR (PT 368) 301. The effect of Order(s) made against persons not joined as a party is that such order is a nullity and of no effect.

    ”This remains the position of the law as affirmed by the Supreme Court in plethora of cases, including but not limited to the case of OKONTA VS PHILIP.

    ”Therefore, the status of all the candidates of the APC in Delta for the 2019 General Elections remains valid and legitimate,” Omo-Agege argued. (NAN)

  • Asaba court ruling has no effect on my election, says Omo-Agege

    Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (APC-Delta) says the judgement of the Asaba Federal High Court on his nomination as a senatorial candidate, representing Delta central district has no effect on his election victory.

    Omo-Agege, made the remarks in a statement issued through his Senior Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Mr Godwin Anaughe in Abuja.

    He said he was not party to the suit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Toyin Adegoke of the Federal High Court 1, Asaba, had on Monday nullified the candidacy of Omo-Agege for the  Delta central and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the just-concluded elections.

    The court, which sacked the Jones Erue-led executive committee of the APC in Delta, to which Omo-Agege belongs, upheld the Cyril Ogodo-led Delta APC faction in the state, declaring the executives as duly elected.

    According to Omo-Agege, the judgment by Justice  Adegoke may give some joy to the plaintiffs and their supporters but does not and cannot alter the status quo.

    ”I remain the senator-elect and Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive remains the member-elect of the Federal House of Representatives,” he said.

    He argued that the electoral college that elected him and  Waive as APC candidates in the just-concluded 2019 general elections came into being by virtue of a consent judgement that had not been set aside.

    ”It is still a valid, subsisting judgement until it is set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction, therefore, our election into our respective positions remains valid,” he said.

    The lawmaker further argued that there was no consequential order made by Justice Adegoke for INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return duly issued to them to be re-issued to those who were now parading themselves as the valid candidates for the just-concluded 2019 general elections.

    ”Again, there is no order made against me, Waive, as we are not parties to the suit and as such are not bound by the said judgement,” he said.

    He said that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the  APC, under the directive of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party was the only organ that was saddled with the responsibility of organising party primaries for the purpose of nominating and sponsoring candidates for elections.

    ”It is imperative to state emphatically that the consent judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that gives validity to the Jones Ode Erue-led Exco is a final judgement of court like any other judgement, and it is valid and subsisting until it is appealed against and set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    ”The Asaba federal high court lacks the jurisdiction to sit as an Appellant Court over a consent judgement delivered by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

    ”Consequently Prophet Jones Ode Erue and his Exco remain the valid and authentic Executives of the Delta APC.

    ”The judgement delivered by Justice Adegoke is therefore of no consequence,” he added.  (NAN)

  • Buhari not against card reader – Omo Agege

    Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is not against having the Card Readers embedded in law.

    Omo-Agege made the remark on Saturday while speaking with newsmen in Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area (LGA) of Delta.

    The senator who represents Delta Central at the National Assembly said lawmakers would addressed the card readers issue in the 9th Assembly.

    “The challenge the president had at that time was the ECOWAS Protocol, it came very late.

    “You cannot make fundamental change in your electoral law six months to the election, otherwise Mr president was not against the spirit of the letters in that amendment,” he said.

    Omo-Agege who just won his returned ticket to the senate alleged electoral malpractices in the Saturday’s Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Delta.

    According to him, there are feelers of ballot box and results sheet snatching in Bomadi, Patani, Warri South-West and some parts Udu LGA.

    He, however, expressed hope that relevant authorities would do justice on that.

    “It will be difficult to give a comprehensive evaluation of the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Delta.

    “The information I am getting from other LGAs is not very good. It is all about ballot box and results sheet snatching.

    ” I do not think that it is good for our democracy.

    “I expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do the right thing at the collation level.

    “INEC made it clear that Card Readers must be used in every polling units not withstanding that the court says card reader is not part of the law.

    “Since INEC insist Card Readers must be used, it will be unfair for some to use it and others not to use it.I am hopeful that Great Ogboru will win and some APC candidates in the state House of Assembly,” he said.

    The senator commended security agencies for doing a good job noting that the election was purely a grassroots thing.

    Meanwhile, collation of results are still ongoing in most polling units in Warri South and some other parts of the state.(NAN)

  • Senate Invasion: ‘Suspend, prosecute Omo-Agege, six others’

    The report of the Ad Hoc Committee investigating the incidence of the Senate Chamber invasion was considered Tuesday and 10 of the 11 recommendations were approved and adopted by the lawmakers.

    The report which was laid in the House Tuesday by the joint Chairperson of the Committee Hon. Betty Apiafi on Wednesday 5th July, 2018 and considered in the Committee of the Whole Tuesday asked for “the immediate suspension of Sen. Ovie Omo- Agege for 180 Legislative sitting days in line with Section 14(2) of the legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.”

    Read Also:Senate seeks probe of murder of nine police officers in Abuja

    Other recommendations asked for the “immediate prosecution of Senator Omo- Agege and the 6 other suspects for treasonable felony, assault occasioning harm, conspiracy to steal and actual theft of the mace, the symbol of authority of the Parliament;

    “That Senator Omo- Agege be prosecuted for incitement and breach of peace in the Chamber of the Senate and contempt ex- facie;

    “the prosecution of Senator Omo- Agege and the six others for obstructing and assaulting officers of the National Assembly in the course of their duty contrary to section 14(1)(C)  of the Legislative Houses ( Powers and Privileges) which states ‘Any member of a Legislative House who assaults or obstructs any officer of the Legislative House while in the execution of his duty shall be guilty of contempt of. Legislative House’ and should be dealt with in accordance with the provision of the law;

    “That the Nigeria Police’s preliminary investigation on the issue should be concluded to allow for prosecution.”

    The recommendations further state ” that the management of National Assembly should, as a matter of urgency, review the existing Security Operational Procedure  and indeed the entire Security architecture with a view to improving  the capacity of the Sergeants- at- Arm to enable them take the lead in providing security and encouraging synergy among other agencies to assist in complimentary roles;

    “And introduce electronic gate screening mechanism with capacity to automatically process authorized persons to Jain access into and out of the National Assembly Complex.

    “That members should accord the Security Operative the required courtesy and cooperation to enable them discharge their responsibilities effectively and efficiently.”

    The report commended the House of Representatives, the international community, the media and other well- meaning individuals for their show of support in the side of Senate when “democracy was threatened”.

    It also recommended for special compensation staff of the Senate Chamber namely Sandra Davou, Chuks Egemuka, Hussaini Yuri, as well as  Timothy Omale and Jacob James Idoko of the House of Representatives Chamber ” who did their best to retrieve the Mace but were overpowered by the thugs.

    Finally, the report commended the Deputy Senate President and the entire Senate “for refusing to be intimidated by the invasion and upholding their oath of office as prescribed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended.)”

    Recall that on April 18, 2018, a set of thugs gained entry into the Senate chamber while it was in session and carted the mace away. The Mace was allegedly seen some days later around the Abuja City gate

    The National Assembly thereafter set up an ad hoc committee with Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah and Hon. Betty Apiafi as co- Chairmen to investigate the circumstances surrounding the theft of the Mace and come up with recommendations.

     

     

  • Omo-Agege: Buhari support group wants Senate to respect court ruling

    The Buhari Support Organization, BSO, Saturday in Katsina urged the senate to respect recent court ruling on suspended Senator Omo-Agege, APC, and Delta North, saying it will promote democracy and rule of law for which the Senate has been known for.

    The group which made the call at a press briefing addressed by its state Chairman, Dr Abba Y. Abdullahi, also frowned at what it called ‘’the ill-treatment’’ meted out to the distinguished senator, said such treatment constitutes an affront  to the law and principles of human right and free speech.

    He said; we wish to appeal to you to urgently implement the court ruling and reverse the suspension of Omo-Agege, stop any further victimization of the Senator and apologize to him and Nigerians for exposing him and his constituency to public ridicule’’

    Recall that on Thursday Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court ruled that the Senate’s decision on Omo-Agege, regarding the suspension, as well as the pattern adopted by the National Assembly, was constitutionally defective.

    Mr Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central, had approached the court, after the Senate’s committee on ethics and privileges began investigating his comments condemning the Senate over the National Assembly’s decision to amend the electoral act.

    In another development, the Buhari Support Organization, BSO, has called on Nigerians to support the re-election bids of both President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state.

    In a press briefing held in Katsina which was addressed by its state Chairman, Abba Abdullahi, the group noted that President Buhari has recorded several landmark achievements since assuming power, including stabilizing the economy, ensuring food security through improved Agriculture, decimating terrorist activities nationwide, and improving the image relations of the country abroad among others.

    On Masari ,the group noted that the state have never had it so good in the hands of previous past administrations, arguing that additional 4 year for him will consolidate the gains and achievements of his administration.

    He said ‘’gentlemen, the task of making Nigeria great again is the patriotic duty of all Nigerians. Similarly, the task of sustaining the unity of this country is the collective responsibility of all’’

     

  • More lawmakers react to 2018 budget proposal

    More lawmakers react to 2018 budget proposal

    A cross section of lawmakers on Tuesday reacted to the 2018 budget proposal presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to a Joint Session of the National Assembly in Abuja.

    While some commended the proposal, others had different opinions.

    In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu (APC-Nasarawa) said the budget proposal was promising and achievable if all hands would be on deck.

    Similarly, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (APC-Delta) said the budget proposal by the President demonstrated that he was up to the task for the remaining term he had in office.

    “The President demonstrated that he is capable of running another campaign and govern this country for another four years. We believe in his vision for this country. We are his foot soldiers.”

    The lawmaker noted that the increase in funding for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was highly commendable.

    He added that “I am excited about that. There is adequate funding for the Itakpe-Alaja rail line. The N150 billion set aside for social intervention is also commendable.

    “I am also excited about that even though I am not happy with the mode of implementation of the 2017 budget.”

    Omo-Agege said President Buhari had fulfilled his constitutional obligation and it was now left for the legislators to cross the T’s and dot the I’s.

    Also, Sen. Peter Nwaboshi (PDP-Delta) commended the President “for his resilience and the way he spoke for one hour five minutes.

    “It is a good development that we are seeing our president well. I am really happy about that.”

    He, however, said he expected the president in his speech to dwell on achievements in the Niger Delta.

    “This is where principally the revenue for this budget is coming from. He should have specific achievements in those areas.”

    On the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) not passed before the presentation of the budget proposal, Nwaboshi said “this is a condition that precedes the budget as stipulated by the Fiscal responsibility Act.

    “We are supposed to pass the MTEF before the budget is presented but that was not done.”

    On his part, Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Sen. Francis Alimikhena said the MTEF and the budget proposal were presented to meet the January to December target.

    He added that “we will treat MTEF first before attending to the budget.”

    Sen. Foster Ogola (PDP-Bayelsa) on his part said the budget would emancipate Nigerians.

    He said “we pray that God will intervene to enable us to have a government that will take care of our needs.