There are strong indications of a looming showdown at the Senate on Tuesday as the lawmaker representing the Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, says he will attend the plenary.
The senator stated this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, while reacting to the nullification of his suspension by the Federal High Court, Abuja.But it was learnt that the Senate had yet to inform security men to allow the Delta Central senator access to the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Saturday PUNCH had exclusively reported on April 21 that the Senate had ordered security agents to prevent Omo-Agege from entering its chamber.But the senator said his planned resumption was not based on court nullifying his suspension, because he never believed that a legislature could suspend a member.
Asked if he would resume legislative duties on Tuesday, Omo-Agege said, “Absolutely. I have already told you that I reserve the right to come to sitting anytime. I am coming not because of this judgment but because I have always maintained that they have no right to suspend.
“I did not just take that position. I took that position based on the extant laws which have been pronounced upon by various courts, including the Court of Appeal in Jos concerning the Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly. That is a pronouncement that can be extended to everyone. I did not even need to go to court to seek a re-validation.
“Be that as it may, I reserve the right to show up anytime to attend plenary, to represent my people, and that right of representation cannot be tampered with by anyone irrespective of the provision.”Omo-Agege pointed out that only his constituents have the power to remove him from the senatorial seat he is currently occupying.
We’ll deliberate on Omo-Agege’s case on Tuesday –Senate
But when contacted on Friday, Sabi-Abdullahi, said the lawmakers would discuss Omo-Agege’s matter at the plenary on Tuesday. He said he could not confirm if the senator could resume or not.
Sabi-Abdullahi said, “There is an appeal against the judgment, according to media reports. But I cannot be speaking for the Senate and reply on what was reported, I must get the facts from the relevant people within the institution. Now, I am not in Abuja. I’ve been asked and I said no, until we resume. When we resume on Tuesday, whatever facts are there, we are going to get the facts and we will be able to know what is happening.”
It was learnt that the Senate had filed for a stay of execution of the judgment and that it had no plan to recall Omo-Agege
PUNCH