Fresh trouble looms in the National Assembly, as the joint committee set up to investigate the April 18, 2018, invasion of Senate chamber has invited former Senate leader, Ali Ndume, as well as embattled Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to explain their alleged roles.
The duo, as stated in separate letters of invitations sent to them for appearance today, are to answer questions on allegations of aiding the invaders who forced their way into the chamber and seized the Senate mace. Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate, Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi South), issued the summons at the committee meeting in Abuja yesterday.
The invitations were sequel to testimonies from heads of different security agencies within the National Assembly, alleging that Omo-Agege-led seven unauthorised personnel into the red chamber and disrupted plenary.
It was also alleged that Senator Ndume prevented Sergeant-atArms who keeps the Mace, from taking it away to safety. Specifically, the invitation letter to Ndume reads in part: “Based on the testimony of the sergeant at arms before the committee, you (Mr Ndume) is alleged to have prevented the mace keeper from taking away the mace to safety. “The committee has, therefore, deemed it necessary to invite you in order to respond to that allegation.
” The committee, in inviting Omo-Agege stated: “Based on the testimony of the National Assembly Divisional Police Officer (DPO) , the DSS and the Sergeant-at-Arms, you are alleged to have entered the National Assembly, accompanied by seven persons who allegedly took the mace of the Senate during plenary session on April 18, at about 11:30 a.m.”
Last week, the National Assembly Divisional Police Officer, Sulu-Gambari Abdul, accused the lawmakers of conspiring with thugs who invaded the Senate chamber and took away the mace last month. Abdul said the Senate invasion was an act of internal conspiracy
