The Senate has resumed plenary after coming out of an executive session, following disruption of sitting by thugs believed to be pro-suspended senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, on Wednesday.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the thugs stormed the Nigerian Senate chamber and went away with the mace, the symbol of authority.
Mr Omo-Agege, APC, Delta Central, entered the chamber while plenary was ongoing, with Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu presiding.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the thugs, numbering fifteen, followed the suspended senator to the chamber, but eight of them entered the Senate chamber.
According to a source, while trying to lead Mr Omo-Agege into the chamber, Sergeant-at-Arms and other security agents tried to block them from entering, but they were pushed out.
The thugs reportedly shouted at them, saying that “Nigeria belongs to all of us, we are all Nigerians, we have come to bring in our Senator it have his seat as our senator.”
According to the source, Mr Omo-Agege went straight to look eye to eye with Senator Ekweremadu who was presiding, adding that it was at this moment that one of the thugs, the smallest of them, took the mace. It was gathered that as the incident happened, many of the Senators rushed to the tea room.
However, the session according to a statement by Aliyu 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, 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 added.
