Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy on Wednesday accused Senator
Ovie Omo-Agege(Delta Central) of abusing the judicial process and
the generosity of the leadership of the Senate.
Misau claimed that some of Omo-Agege’s actions were aimed at
bringing down the institution of the Senate to which he
belongs.
The Bauchi Central Senator stated this in reaction to the court
injunction which Omo-Agege obtained on Tuesday from a High Court in
Bwari-Abuja, restraining the leadership of the Senate and House of
Representatives from considering the report of an ad hoc committee
set up by both chambers to investigate the invasion of the Senate
Chamber by some hoodlums who carted away the mace the symbol of
authority of the parliament.
Misau, in a statement released in Abuja, noted that Omo-Agege’s
suit is frivolous.
He said: “The court cannot stop the legislature from the
performance of its constitutional duties. Some hoodlums attacked
the Senate chamber on live television during plenary and inflicted
injury on workers on April 18, 2018.
“The leadership set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate what
happened and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence and months
after the committee had submitted its report, a Senator rushed to
court when he heard that there was a push for the report to be
considered before the life of the present Senate expires. He wants
to prevent the report of the committee from being considered.
“In fact, his action has shown the reason why the Senate should
actually go ahead and consider the report and act on it, no matter
the odds.
“Omo-Agege has dared the Senate. Now, he should face the music.
I blame the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki for
delaying on the consideration of the report.
“The Eighth Senate is winding down and the general view of
members is that before we leave, all outstanding reports should be
considered and acted upon.
“If Omo-Agege does not have any hidden agenda, why is he seeking
to stop the consideration of the report, after all, he was given
fair hearing to state his own case before the panel?
“He is probably running helter-skelter now because he wants to
become Deputy Senate President and he knows that if we adopt the
recommendation of the committee, the outcome will affect his
ambition. This is the reason why people should always consider the
future implications of their actions.”
He however implored the Senate leadership to move swiftly to
vacate the injunction granted to Omo-Agege by the Bwari court and
ensure nothing stops the Senate from getting to the roots of that
invasion by hoodlums.
Omo-Agege, in swift response to Misau’s statement, described it
as completely misplaced.
For him, the statement is akin to “the hand of Esau and the
voice of Jacob.”
He noted it is elementary to know that nowhere in the
constitution is the National Assembly and or its leadership granted
the power to investigate crimes.
Omo-Agege said, “This is the hand of Esau and the voice of
Jacob. It is cowardly for Saraki to have Senator Misau sign his
(Saraki’s) press release. Saraki needs to brush up on his knowledge
of the constitution and the law.
“Nowhere in the Constitution is he granted the right to
investigate crimes. He should be counseled that the ancillary
powers derivable from section 88 of the 1999 constitution must be
exercised in furtherance of law making and not witch-hunting. Only
the Nigeria police have the powers to investigate crimes.
“Omo-Agege has not dared the senate and would never do so. He
has instead dared Saraki to continue with his impunity and bigotry
at his own peril.
“The Kwara electorate has had enough of Saraki’s impunity and
excesses and so do we.
“A terminal date has been fixed and in a while the whole country
will be breathe a sigh of relief.”