JUST IN: Mace Theft: Court restrains Police, SSS from arresting Omo-Agege

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has restrained the
Nigeria Police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Attorney
General of the Federation from arresting or threatening a senator,
Ovie Omo-Agege.

The senator was briefly detained by the police on Wednesday
after he was arrested at the premises of the National Assembly.

Mr. Omo-Agege was suspended from the Senate on April 12 over his
allegations that a bill for reordering of election sequence was
targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

The senator later apologised to his colleagues after the Senate
had directed its Ethics & Privileges Committee to investigate
the matter. The committee eventually recommended Mr Omo-Agege’s
suspension.

However, on Wednesday, the suspended Senator resurfaced at the
National Assembly.

The Senate spokesman, Abdullahi Sabi, later accused Mr.
Omo-Agege of leading the unknown persons who broke into the
Senate’s session and carted away its mace.

But in a statement Wednesday evening, the senator denied the
allegation.

He said he was at the National Assembly to resume sittings
“based on legal advice and his understanding of the current
position of the law.”

The police later announced recovery of the mace, but said
investigation was ongoing.

However, Mr Omo-Agege’s lawyers approached the court on Thursday
seeking an interim injunction against further arrest or detention
of the senator.

The team of lawyers led by Aliyu Umar, a Senior Avocate of
Nigeria, asked for court’s protection for the embattled senator
pending determination of a fundamental human rights case brought
against the respondents.

The judge, Ishaq Bello, granted the four-point prayers of the
senator’s lawyers and adjourned the matter to May 6.

The case is also reassigned to Court 30 for hearing.

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has restrained the
Nigeria Police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Attorney
General of the Federation from arresting or threatening a senator,
Ovie Omo-Agege.

The senator was briefly detained by the police on Wednesday
after he was arrested at the premises of the National Assembly.

Mr. Omo-Agege was suspended from the Senate on April 12 over his
allegations that a bill for reordering of election sequence was
targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

The senator later apologised to his colleagues after the Senate
had directed its Ethics & Privileges Committee to investigate
the matter. The committee eventually recommended Mr Omo-Agege’s
suspension.

However, on Wednesday, the suspended Senator resurfaced at the
National Assembly.

The Senate spokesman, Abdullahi Sabi, later accused Mr.
Omo-Agege of leading the unknown persons who broke into the
Senate’s session and carted away its mace.

But in a statement Wednesday evening, the senator denied the
allegation.

He said he was at the National Assembly to resume sittings
“based on legal advice and his understanding of the current
position of the law.”

The police later announced recovery of the mace, but said
investigation was ongoing.

However, Mr Omo-Agege’s lawyers approached the court on Thursday
seeking an interim injunction against further arrest or detention
of the senator.

The team of lawyers led by Aliyu Umar, a Senior Avocate of
Nigeria, asked for court’s protection for the embattled senator
pending determination of a fundamental human rights case brought
against the respondents.

The judge, Ishaq Bello, granted the four-point prayers of the
senator’s lawyers and adjourned the matter to May 6.

The case is also reassigned to Court 30 for hearing.