Senate declares attack on National Assembly as treason, calls for police action

Senate declares attack on National Assembly as treason, calls for police action

- Protesters stormed the Nigerian Senate chamber on Wednesday, April 18, and stole the mace

- The protesters are supporters of a suspended senator, Ovie Omo-Agege

- The Senate described the action as an act of treason

The Nigerian Senate has reacted to the invasion of its chamber by supporters of a suspended senator, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Earlier on Wednesday, April 18, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senator from Delta state, stormed the red chambers and stole the mace (the symbol of authority in the parliament).

In a statement sent to Legit.ng, the Senate spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger, APC), described the action as an act of treason and called for police action.

Senate declares attack on National Assembly as treason, calls for police action
Scenes from the attack earlier today, Wednesday, April 18. Photo credit: Sumner Sambo

READ ALSO: APC stakeholders condemn Senator Omo-Agege’s suspension

The statement read: “Today, some 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.

“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. 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."

Legit.ng gathered that the Senate is now in an executive session.and will release an updated statement on the incident after the closed door session.

Meanwhile, Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has explained why the Nigerian Senate suspended Senator Omo-Agege.

Giving his thoughts on the decision of the Senate, Saraki emphasised on the need for serving senators to respect and preserve the integrity of the Senate.

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Omo-Agege, an All Progressives Congress member representing Delta Central senatorial district, had openly opposed the red chamber's elections reordering bill and subsequently instituted a case against the Senate in court to avoid being punished for his actions.

The Senate ethics committee had earlier recommended that Omo-Agege be suspended for 181 days but the Senate reduced it after pleas from his colleagues.

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Source: Legit.ng

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