Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) yesterday condemned the
disruption of Senate plenary by suspected thugs allegedly led by
Senator Omo-Agege, saying seizing the mace was a criminal act.
Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Wole Olanipekun
and a constitutional lawyer Sebastine Hon, both SANs, called for
the prosecution of all those involved.
Mallam Yusuf Alli, Chief Mike Ozekhome, Chief Emeka Ngige, Mr
Ahmed Raji and Prof Yemi Akinseye-George, all senior advocates,
said the developments were condemnable.
Olanipekun said: “It’s certainly a dangerous development, which
is very threatening, not just to our evolving democracy but also to
the entirety of the nation. To me, it’s akin to treason. It makes
us a laughing stock in the comity of democratic nations
worldwide.
“We shouldn’t allow history to repeat itself on us this time
around, because this was how the infamous ‘fire on the mountain’
episode started in the House of Assembly of the defunct Western
region.
“Those behind this heinous and dastardly act must be apprehended
and brought to book, but due process of law should also be
followed. They shouldn’t be condemned without hearing, as this is
the fashion in Nigeria now.”
Hon, a renowned legal author, said those who stormed the Senate
and removed the mace must be prosecuted.
“This is a very sad development for our democracy. It seems the
government at the centre has lost control, or it’s fast losing
control. All Nigerians of good will must rise up to defend this
democracy.
“The suspended senator and his backers must be prosecuted
without delay. This is simply intolerable. I condemn this dastardly
act without mincing words,” Hon said.
Ali said the development showed the kind of leaders Nigeria
has.
“If it’s true that a senator led hoodlums to steal the mace,
which is the authority of the Senate, then our collective resolve
to live as decent and civilised citizens is undermined! It speaks
volume for the quality of leaders our system threw up in 2015!” Ali
said.
Ozekhome described incident as a “crude and barbaric” invasion
of the hallowed Senate chambers, saying it was the civilian
equivalent of a military coup.
According to him, no democracy was complete without an
independent legislature, in line with the principle of separation
of powers, so as to prevent dictatorship.
Ozekhome said Omo-Agege had no business in the Senate having
been suspended, adding that the mace that was taken away was “a
sacrosanct symbol of authority, integrity, dignity and power of
lawmaking in the Senate.”
On why he suspects executive collusion, he said: “For these
hoodlums to have taken the mace out of the floor of the chamber
into their car, in the presence of policemen and other security
agencies that guard the National Assembly, it is simply a case of
the witch crying last night and the child dying this morning, and
we know who killed the child. I therefore suspect serious
government conspiratorial collaboration.”
Ozekhome said Omo-Agege, who went to court to challenge his
suspension, should have allowed the judicial process to run its
full course, but resorted to self-help.
“This is unacceptable. It is a sad day for democracy. It is sad
day for the Senate and National Assembly and for Nigeria. It shows
that we’re not ready to deepen the tenets of democracy,” he said,
adding that Omo-Agege could not claim that his constituency was
denied of representation, having subscribed to the Rules of the
Senate and was bound by its decisions.
“I condemn what happened in the Senate. I condemn the intrusion,
and the apparent half-powerlessness of the National Assembly
security in guarding against this national embarrassment and
national shame on our country,” Ozekhome added.
Raji warned politicians to desist from acts threatening
democracy.
“The political class must get their acts together and must
consciously avoid any action that will aid the fifth columnists to
wipe out the little progress we have recorded in our democratic
journey so far,” the SAN said.
Ngige said Omo-Agege, despite the circumstances, was presumed
innocent until proven otherwise. He urged the National Assembly to
strengthen its security.
“The leadership of the National Assembly should beef up its
security and investigate why the thugs had easy access to the
premises and to the hallowed chambers. All those involved should be
severely dealt with in accordance with rule of law. The price of
liberty is eternal vigilance. National Assembly members should be
vigilant,” he said.
Akinseye-George believes that provocation could make someone to
lose his sense of decency and self-control.
“The suspended senator must have acted under the heat of extreme
provocation. Authorities should avoid provoking people. This is the
kind of response you get when people are provoked. They act in the
heat of passion only to regret their actions later. He may also
have other issues which are not known to innocent observers.
“But, we must all avoid actions which can undermine democracy.
Legislature is the epitome of democracy. Its independence must be
respected and preserved at all times,” the professor of Law
said.
Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) yesterday condemned the
disruption of Senate plenary by suspected thugs allegedly led by
Senator Omo-Agege, saying seizing the mace was a criminal
act.
Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Wole Olanipekun
and a constitutional lawyer Sebastine Hon, both SANs, called for
the prosecution of all those involved.
Mallam Yusuf Alli, Chief Mike Ozekhome, Chief Emeka Ngige, Mr
Ahmed Raji and Prof Yemi Akinseye-George, all senior advocates,
said the developments were condemnable.
Olanipekun said: “It’s certainly a dangerous development, which
is very threatening, not just to our evolving democracy but also to
the entirety of the nation. To me, it’s akin to treason. It makes
us a laughing stock in the comity of democratic nations
worldwide.
“We shouldn’t allow history to repeat itself on us this time
around, because this was how the infamous ‘fire on the mountain’
episode started in the House of Assembly of the defunct Western
region.
“Those behind this heinous and dastardly act must be apprehended
and brought to book, but due process of law should also be
followed. They shouldn’t be condemned without hearing, as this is
the fashion in Nigeria now.”
Hon, a renowned legal author, said those who stormed the Senate
and removed the mace must be prosecuted.
“This is a very sad development for our democracy. It seems the
government at the centre has lost control, or it’s fast losing
control. All Nigerians of good will must rise up to defend this
democracy.
“The suspended senator and his backers must be prosecuted
without delay. This is simply intolerable. I condemn this dastardly
act without mincing words,” Hon said.
Ali said the development showed the kind of leaders Nigeria
has.
“If it’s true that a senator led hoodlums to steal the mace,
which is the authority of the Senate, then our collective resolve
to live as decent and civilised citizens is undermined! It speaks
volume for the quality of leaders our system threw up in 2015!” Ali
said.
Ozekhome described incident as a “crude and barbaric” invasion
of the hallowed Senate chambers, saying it was the civilian
equivalent of a military coup.
According to him, no democracy was complete without an
independent legislature, in line with the principle of separation
of powers, so as to prevent dictatorship.
Ozekhome said Omo-Agege had no business in the Senate having
been suspended, adding that the mace that was taken away was “a
sacrosanct symbol of authority, integrity, dignity and power of
lawmaking in the Senate.”
On why he suspects executive collusion, he said: “For these
hoodlums to have taken the mace out of the floor of the chamber
into their car, in the presence of policemen and other security
agencies that guard the National Assembly, it is simply a case of
the witch crying last night and the child dying this morning, and
we know who killed the child. I therefore suspect serious
government conspiratorial collaboration.”
Ozekhome said Omo-Agege, who went to court to challenge his
suspension, should have allowed the judicial process to run its
full course, but resorted to self-help.
“This is unacceptable. It is a sad day for democracy. It is sad
day for the Senate and National Assembly and for Nigeria. It shows
that we’re not ready to deepen the tenets of democracy,” he said,
adding that Omo-Agege could not claim that his constituency was
denied of representation, having subscribed to the Rules of the
Senate and was bound by its decisions.
“I condemn what happened in the Senate. I condemn the intrusion,
and the apparent half-powerlessness of the National Assembly
security in guarding against this national embarrassment and
national shame on our country,” Ozekhome added.
Raji warned politicians to desist from acts threatening
democracy.
“The political class must get their acts together and must
consciously avoid any action that will aid the fifth columnists to
wipe out the little progress we have recorded in our democratic
journey so far,” the SAN said.
Ngige said Omo-Agege, despite the circumstances, was presumed
innocent until proven otherwise. He urged the National Assembly to
strengthen its security.
“The leadership of the National Assembly should beef up its
security and investigate why the thugs had easy access to the
premises and to the hallowed chambers. All those involved should be
severely dealt with in accordance with rule of law. The price of
liberty is eternal vigilance. National Assembly members should be
vigilant,” he said.
Akinseye-George believes that provocation could make someone to
lose his sense of decency and self-control.
“The suspended senator must have acted under the heat of extreme
provocation. Authorities should avoid provoking people. This is the
kind of response you get when people are provoked. They act in the
heat of passion only to regret their actions later. He may also
have other issues which are not known to innocent observers.
“But, we must all avoid actions which can undermine democracy.
Legislature is the epitome of democracy. Its independence must be
respected and preserved at all times,” the professor of Law
said.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/invasion-criminal-treasonable-condemnable-sans/