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Tag: Senate

  • Police recover stolen Senate Mace in Abuja

    The mace of the Senate forcefully taken away by some hoodlum at the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly has been recovered by the Police.

    The Mace was carted away by some suspected thugs during a plenary session on Wednesday.

    The action led the Senate to direct the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Lawan Daura, to retrieve the mace within 24 hours.

    The Police in a statement in the early hours of Thursday by the Deputy Force Spokesman, SP Aremu Adeniran said the mace was abandoned at a point under the flyover before the City Gate.

    Adeniran also said the IG has directed the Commissioner of Police, FCT to beef up security at the National Assembly.

    The statement reads: “Sequel to the invasion of the Senate Chambers of the National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 18th April, 2018 by some suspected thugs who disrupted the Senate Plenary Session and carted away the Mace of the Red Chambers, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, immediately instituted a high-powered Police Investigation and Intelligence Team coordinated by the IGP Monitoring Unit of the Force and further directed a total lock-down of the Federal Capital Territory with intense surveillance patrol and thorough Stop and Search operations at various Police check-points with a view to arresting perpetrators and possible recovery of the stolen mace.”

    On how the mace was recovered, Adeniran said: “The Police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which forced the suspected miscreants to abandon the Mace at a point under the flyover before the City Gate, where a patriotic passer-by saw it and alerted the Police.”

    The Police while commending motorists within Abuja Metropolis for their support and timely information during the rigorous stop and search operations for the recovery of the Mace added that discreet investigation into the incident was ongoing so as to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice.

     

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Attack on Senate: Saraki lauds colleagues, reps for defending democracy
    
			
    Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has commended the leadership and members of the Senate for standing  firmly in defence of democracy and the rule of law with their decision to defy those who attacked the Red Chambers of the National Assembly during which the mace was forcefully taken away.
    

    

    Saraki, speaking from Washington where he is attending the Spring Meeting of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF), also lauded the swift reaction by the leadership and members of the House of Representives in demonstrating their solidarity with the red chamber.
    

    “I have just been informed that some hoodlums invaded the Senate chambers, forcefully taken away the mace and assaulted some of our Sergeant-at-arms on chamber duties. I am delighted that the Senate stood up to them by disregarding their unreasonable and shameful action and went on with the day’s proceedings as slated in the Order Paper.
    

    “My commendation goes to my deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, other members of the leadership, my colleagues, the leadership and members of the House of Representives for standing in defence of democracy, parliamentary sanctity and constitutionalism.
    

    “With the way the Senate has defied those seeking to undermine it, we have sent out a strong signal that we are always ready to defend our constitutional mandate and nothing will deter us from this.
    

    “I associate myself with the comments of the Deputy Senate President that we are ready to get to the roots of this assault on democracy and ensure that those who are responsible, no matter how remote, will be brought to justice”, Saraki stated in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yusuph  Olaniyonu
    

     
    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Lawyer condemns Senate, Omo-Agege for desecrating hallowed chamber
    
			
    A lawyer and former member of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Ogala, has condemned the act of desecrating the hallowed chambers of the Senate by the suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s thugs and holds the Senate fully responsible for laying the foundation for the desecration and anarchy.
    

    Ogala who spoke to newsmen at Ikeja on Wednesday on the development in the Senate said it was an unfortunate incident in the Senate arm of the National Assembly .
    

    The public affairs analyst said, “It is a highly condemnable act of brigandage and assault not just on the legislature but the constitution. It is sheer anarchy.
    

    “But in so saying, one must note that the Senate set the stage for the madness and anarchy with the suspension of Senator Omo-Agege in flagrant disregard of the Senate Rules and the Orders of Court.
    

    “And why do I say so? The rules of the Senate has expressly provided that once a matter is pending before a court of law, the Senate shall not deliberate on same or do any act that may interfere with the proceedings of the court.”
    

    He argued further that Senator Omo-Agege had gone to court and obtained an order of Court to restrain the Senate and its Committee on Ethics and Privileges from taking further steps on the investigations of his conduct pending the determination of the suit.
    

    But that despite receiving the Order of Court , the Senate at plenary rather than stay action proceeded to  condemn the order of Court and abuse the judge who granted the order .
    

    “It even had the temerity to adopt a motion to write and indeed wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria threatening and asking him to call judges to order.
    

    “And as if that was not enough, it still went ahead to invite the senator who when he attended the  committee sitting declined to speak and reminded the committee of the order of Court and also  reminded it of the provision of the Senate rules that prohibits it from deliberating on a matter that’s lis pendis”.
    

    And that notwithstanding the order of court and it’s rules,  the Senate set both aside and went on to suspend Senator Omo-Agege.
    

    “It will be recalled that before the instant case,   the Federal High Court had earlier delivered judgement in Senator Ali Ndume v NASS  and ruled that the Senate or any legislative house  had no constitutional powers to suspend an elected  member  and that same is unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.
    

    “The Senate being aware of its own rules, the judgement in Ali Ndume case and the order in Omo – Agege case still went ahead to purpoetedly suspend the senator.
    

    This Ogala said is condemnable.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Mace’s seizure: Omo-Agege led thugs – Senate
    
			
    The Nigerian Senate have said that the taking away of the Mace by hoodlums on Wednesday was led by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, a member representing Delta Central Senatorial District.
    

    The Senate made this known through it’s verified Twitter account. The statement reads:
    

    “Today, some hoodlums led by suspended Senator @OvieOmoAgege walked into the Senate plenary and seized the symbol of authority of the Upper Legislative Chamber, the mace.
    

    “This action is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force and it must be treated as such...”
    


    

    Read also: Mace’s seizure is treason, says Senate
    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Senate back in session with Mace
    
			
    The Senate has resumed plenary after coming out of an executive closed door session where the  forceful removal of the mace was discussed.
    

    The session according to a statement by Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi ,Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs is holding with the mace, the official symbol of authority firmly in place, and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, presiding.
    

    “The Senate also decided that it will get to the roots of this sad assault on democracy and an obvious act of treason which the seizure of the mace by some armed hodlums represents. The hoodlums severely attacked some members of staff of the National Assembly, particularly the Sergeant-at-Arms on Chamber duties.
    

    “The Senate has mandated the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Kpotum Ibrahim and Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Mallam Lawan Daura, to retrieve the mace stolen by the hoodlums within 24 hours.
    

    “At the moment, some House of Representives members led by Deputy Speaker. Hon. Yusuf Lasun, are in the Senate chambers in solidarity visits. The session is presently live on NTA Channel 10.
    

    “We are determined to conclude all matters slated on the Order Paper for today, even if it means us sitting until 6pm”, the Senate spokesman stated.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Mace’s seizure is treason, says Senate
    
			
    The Senate has described the taking away of the Mace by hoodlums on Wednesday as treason and urged security agents to retrieved the symbol of authority of the chambers.
    

    Spokesman of the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdulahi in a statement said the  action “is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such.”
    

    “All Security agencies must stand on the side of due process and immediately mobilize their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the mastermind and the perpetrators of this act.
    

    

    “This action is also an affront on the legislature, and the Leadership of the House has come to express their support against this action,” Abdulahi stated.
    

    Read Also: Hoodlums invade Senate, take Mace away
    

    According to him,  “some armed hoodlums led by suspended Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, walked into the Senate plenary and seized the symbol of authority of the Upper Legislative Chamber, the mace.”
    

    He said the Senate is now in an Executive session and an  updated statement will be released immediately after the closed door session.
    

    

     
    

    Photo Credit: @Davosh Media
    

    

     
    

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Breaking: Hoodlums invade Senate, take Mace away
    
			
    Some hoodlums on Wednesday stormed the Senate chamber and took away the Mace.
    

    The Mace is the symbol of authority in the National Assembly.
    

    There was confusion in the chamber as Senators scampered for safety.
    

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the day’s plenary, confirmed the incident.
    

    He said the invaders would be punished for disrupting the plenary.
    

    The incident reportedly happened after suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege entered the chambers.
    

    Details later…
    

     
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Senate confirms Ojukwu as NHRC Executive Secretary
    
			
    •Momoh is NERC boss
    

    THE Senate has confirmed the nomination of Mr. Anthony Ojukwu’s appointment as Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
    

    The upper chamber also confirmed the nomination of Prof. James Momoh as Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Chairman.
    

    Ojukwu’s confirmation followed presentation and consideration of the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
    

    The committee’s Vice Chairman, Senator Babajide Omoworare, who presented the report, noted that  the committee, after its screening, found Ojukwu fit to hold the position commission.
    

    In the same way, Momoh’s confirmation followed presentation and consideration of the report of the Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy by its chairman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
    

    The report gave Momoh a clean bill of health to serve as the NERC boss.
    

    Deputy Senate President, Senatir Ike Ekweremadu, who presided congratulated Ojukwu and Momoh for positions.
    

    Ekweremadu urged them to live up to expectation in view of the various challenges faced by their respective bodies.
    

     
    

     
    

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    Senate sends 12 constitution alteration bills for Buhari’s assent
    
			
    THE Senate yesterday cleared 12 bills, which it said would be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.
    

    The upper legislative chamber said the bills have met the provisions of Section 9 of the Constitution.
    

    The bills had been passed and meant to be processed in line with the Acts Authentication Act before transmission to the President.
    

    They include Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bills No 2 (Authorisation of Expenditure in absence of Appropriation); No 4 (Financial Autonomy of State legislatures); No 8 (The Legislature); No 9 (Political parties and electoral matters); No 15 (The Nigeria Police Force); No 16 (Restriction of Tenure of President and Governors); No 20 (Submission from the Judiciary); and No 21 (Determination of Pre-Election Matters).
    

    Others are Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bills No 22 (Consequential Amendment on Civil Defence); No 24 (Procedure for Overriding Presidential Veto in Constitutional Alteration); No 27 (Reduction of Age for Election); and No 28 (Time Line for the Presentation of Appropriation Bill).
    

    The Senate said notwithstanding the resolution of some State Houses of Assembly on some of the bills, the action, it noted, would enable the institutions of government prepare for immediate implementation of policies and programmes pursuant to the provisions.
    

    It was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and 49 others.
    

    Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan, who presented the motion on behalf of Ekweremadu, said in processing the alterations, the Senate took cognisance of the provisions of Section 9 of the Constitution as amended.
    

    According to him, 33 bills seeking to alter various provisions of the constitution were presented before the Senate and the House of Representatives in July 2017.
    

    Lawan noted that the Senate approved 29 of the bills with the required two-thirds majority of members, adding that the House of Representatives also approved 21 of the same bills.
    

    The Senate leader noted that the two chambers approved 17 of the bills without difference and were transmitted to the State Houses of Assembly for their resolutions.
    

    He added that four of the bills were approved with amendment and have been committed to a conference committee for further action in line with legislative tradition.
    

    Senate Lawan said 35 state Houses of Assembly had forwarded their resolutions on most of the bills.
    

    When Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary put the resolution into voice votes, it was unanimously approved by majority of senators in attendance.
    

     
    

     
    

     
    

     
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Senate summons Emefiele, Adeosun,  Dan-Ali over $462m payment for helicopter
    
			
    •Reps refer matter to ethics committee
    

    THE Senate yesterday summoned Defence Minister Mansur Dan-Ali, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele.
    

    It followed alleged withdrawal of  $462 million for purchase of helicopters from an American firm.
    

    The House of Representatives also referred  the matter to its Ethics and Privileges and Finance committees to look into alleged  constitutional breach.
    

    The upper chamber said Dan-Ali, Adeosun and Emefiele should appear before its Appropriation Committee to explain the withdrawal and payment of the money to the American firm.
    

    The resolution followed a Point of Order by  Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East), who told the Senate the Federal Government withdrew the money in March, 2018.
    

    The Appropriation Committee was given one-week to report back to the Senate in plenary for consideration.
    

    Anyanwu, who came under Order 43 and Section 80 (20(3) of the Constitution, which prescribed the way and manner money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation can be withdrawn, prayed the Senate to look into the matter.
    

    He said the withdrawal and payment were done without National Assembly’s authorisation as required by the Constitution.
    

    Anyanwu said: “I have it on good authority that in March, 2018, from the Federation Account, a whooping sum of $462 million was withdrawn by the Federal Government. The money was paid to an American firm for the purchase of helicopters called Helicopters Techno Fight.
    

    “This was done without approval from this Senate and from the National Assembly. I know that there was no time any request was brought here for the approval of such an amount by the Federal Government from the Federation Account.
    

    “As a sitting senator of this country, I want to find out how this thing was done. I will request that we invite the CBN governor, the Ministers of Defence and Finance. They need to tell us how these monies were withdrawn and paid to this American firm without the approval of the Senate.”
    

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, agreed with Anyanwu that the allegation should be investigated to put the record straight.
    

    Ekweremadu said: “You have heard Senator Anyanwu. I think we should refer this matter to the Senate committee on Appropriation to find out the true position of things regarding that.
    

    “The Appropriation committee should invite the three people to throw more light on this and report within one week. ”
    

    The House said the Presidency has by that action rendered the National Assembly nonfunctional, which was a breach of the constitution and the privileges of the lawmakers.
    

    Tobi Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu), while raising a point of order on breach of members’ privileges, said the payment of $400 million to a United States (U.S.)company for the military equipment’s procurement was a breach of the constitution and an affront on the National Assembly.
    

    “This is a breach of privileges of members because the expenditure of $400 million made from the Federation Account was not ratified by the National Assembly.
    

    “As I learnt, the Federal Government breached our collective privileges by making the parliament completely nonfunctional.
    

    “There’s a mischief intended about this by not informing the parliament and this is exclusive of the $1 billion that was said to have been approved for the procurement of military equipment to tackle insurgency in the Northeast,” he said.
    

    In his ruling, Speaker Yakubu Dogara did not allow debate of the issue but referred it to Ethics and Privileges and Finance Committees to look into it.
    

    Saying that the referral was not a full blown investigation yet, the Speaker noted that removal of monies from the Federation Account without the explicit approval of the parliament amounted to stealing of public funds.
    

    He said the veracity of the allegation must be investigated whether the breaches occurred or not  and to what extent.