TheNewsGuru

Tag: Mace

  • JUST IN: Hoodlums invade Ogun Assembly, cart away mace from Speaker’s office

    JUST IN: Hoodlums invade Ogun Assembly, cart away mace from Speaker’s office

    Information reaching TheNewsGuru.com, TNG has it that the Ogun State House of Assembly was on Thursday invaded by suspected hoodlums.

    According to reports, the suspected hoodlums attacked the office of the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, and carted away the assembly’s mace.

    It was gathered that the yet-to-be-identified hoodlums broke into the speaker’s office overnight and stole the official symbol of the legislature.

    Meanwhile security agents have since taken over the premises of the assembly building which is located a few metres away from the Governor’s Office complex in the precinct of the State Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

    Confirming the development, spokesman for the Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi said the coat of the arm has been recovered but the stick is still missing.

    The PPRO added that an investigation into the burglary and theft has commenced.

    Oyeyemi said, “Yes, there is an unfortunate incident today in the assembly complex. The hoodlums broke into the assembly through the ceiling and removed the official mace of the house. That is why the Commissioner of Police has to go there for an on-the-spot assessment.”

    Details later…

  • [Photo] Police recover stolen Gombe Assembly mace

    The Gombe State Police Command on Friday announced the recovery of the mace of the state’s House of Assembly, forcefully taken away during a scuffle by some members during plenary on Thursday.

    Police Commissioner Shina Olukolu, told newsmen in Gombe that the mace was found around National Industrial Court in the state capital early yesterday.

    The mace, the symbol of authority of the legislature, was whisked away by some aggrieved members of the assembly after a failed attempt to change their leadership.

    Olukolu said:“you will recall that yesterday, May 24, at about 1.30 p.m. the mace, the symbol of authority of Gombe state House of Assembly, was taken away by an honourable member of the house in the company of others.

    “The incident was allegedly occasioned by the dispute over leadership change of minority principal officers of the house.

    “On receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police visited the scene and heightened the security architecture already in place in the command based on the directives of the Inspector-General of Police.

    “The pressure made them consequently to abandon the mace by the National Industrial Court in the state and it was recovered early on Friday.

    “The mace is, therefore, today being handed over to the Speaker for his retention and use,’’ he said.

    Receiving the mace from the police, Speaker Nasiru Nono commended the police and other security agencies in the state for the proactive steps they took, which led to the recovery of the mace.

  • BREAKING: Gun shots, commotion as assembly member hijacks mace in Gombe

    There was heavy commotion at the Gombe State House of Assembly on Thursday – several gun shots were fired after a member of the house hijacked the mace and fled the assembly premises.

    According to reports reaching TheNewsGuru, a member of the Gombe State House of Assembly, representing Akko West Constituency, Abdullahi Umar, reportedly ran away with the mace in his official vehicle.

    A source at who spoke to TheNewsGuru.com on the incident under condition of anonimity said: “The minority leader of the assembly, Mr. Fada of All Progressives Congress, APC, was believed to have joined the camp of the incumbent Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo. As a result of this, his colleagues wanted him changed. He rushed to his benefactor, Governor Dankwambo of PDP, to help him not get removed. Consequently, the mace was stolen and one of the Members, Mr Barwa of APC was chased and his car sprayed with bullets.”

    Details soon:

    The car being towed away with flat tires as a result of the shooting.

     

    Details soon…

  • Police blame Senate invasion, mace theft on lawmakers’ conspiracy , faulty security equipment

    The Divisional Police Officer in the National Assembly, Sulu-Gambari Abdul, on Wednesday blamed the April 18 invasion of the Senate and removal of the mace by hoodlums on internal conspiracy.

    Abdul stated this during an investigative hearing into the incident by joint ad hoc committee investigating the incident.

    According to him, what happened at the National Assembly was an act of internal conspiracy among some security agencies and some lawmakers.

    “There should be a synergy between security agencies and the lawmakers but in this case the attack came from the roof as the senators are not helping security matters.

    “On April 16, there was an earlier hint that a group planned to invade the National Assembly and disrupt activities, which called for a build-up of security with two units of mobile police mobilised to the complex.

    “However, on April 18, at about 11 a.m., my attention was drawn to a group protesting at the gate, and while I moved to address the group I was informed that some people were running away with the mace.

    “I signalled all the entry points that nobody drives in or out but three men approached me identifying themselves as security operatives and requested to be allowed to go.

    “The strain of blood on their clothes made me suspicious and I ordered that they should be arrested.

    “In all, six people were arrested same day and handed over to the Force Headquarters alongside charms recovered from them.

    “In addition, an unmarked Prado jeep and a Toyota Hilux were impounded and they are with the police.

    “It was later that I observed that the protest was a diversionary attention to move me out and that the protesters were same group with those that attacked,’’ Abdul said.

    He said that there was no communication from the Sergeant-at-Arms to the National Assembly during the invasion by the thugs.

    Earlier, the Sergeant-at-Arms, Brighton Danwalex, had said that report from investigation after the incident said that a senator, Ali Ndume, instructed the men assigned to protect the mace not to touch it during the invasion.

    According to him, it was wrong for them to take orders from Mr Ndume.

    “Security men are having challenges with some legislators because they don’t want to follow checks,’’ he added.

    Mr Danwalex said that security officials were overpowered due to lack of non-functional security gadgets to enhance operational capacity.

    “There is no functional walkie-talkie; we would have alerted all the exit points.

    “The CCTV is not functioning and there is only one operational patrol vehicle and the entrance into the white house requires biometric doors,’’ he said.

    The chairman of the committee, Bala N’allah, requested the police to furnish it with copy of station diary where entry of the crime was made.

    He also directed that the committee should be given copy of crime routine diary, pictures of those arrested and the transfer register explaining where the invaders were transferred to.

    On her part, the co-chairman of the committee, Betty Apiafi, blamed the invasion on negligence on the part of the Sergeant-at-Arms.

    She accused them of failing to raise alarm having observed something unusual.

    Similarly, Shehu Sani, accused the security operatives in the complex of regularly collecting money to allow unauthorised persons into the premises.

    “People troop in here by paying money to security. Supposing they were terrorists and had it been that they came in to kill someone, they would have succeeded.

    “How could five thugs succeed if there was no collusion?

    “Security men here control crowd who come to protest but melted away that day and the two Sergeant-at-Arms, who normally protect the mace, were not seen,’’ Mr Sani said.

  • Report on Senate invasion, mace theft ready for consideration – Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday announced that the report detailing the circumstances surrounding the incident of April 18 when thugs invaded the Senate chamber and made away with the mace is ready.

    “Distinguished colleagues, you’ll remember that following the incidence of invasion of the senate, one of the decisions that was taken then was that the management must do a report to find out the roles that were played by all the members and what led to the invasion. The report has been ready and submitted. I think that report should go to the committee on ethics for them to review it and make their recommendation to us,” Saraki said.

    The Senate President while commenting on a point of order raised by Tijjani Kaura (Zamfara-APC) made this announcement.

    Kaura had called the attention of the Senate to recent killings and kidnappings in his constituency urging the Senate to look into the matter.

    Saraki said the appearance of the Inspector-General of Police on Wednesday will suffice to address security issues in Zamfara and other parts of Nigeria.

    “Again it is unfortunate of the incident in Zamfara. Which is of a daily basis. It is of great concern to us. We at the National Assembly, we must play our role to see what we can do to tackle this insecurity issue. It is unfortunate as we said last time we expected the IG here, we have given him again till Wednesday to come here so that we can truly engage and address these problems we are facing today in the country.

    “We saw what happened in Kaduna State some days ago and now it is Zamfara. We will do our best despite the level of lack of cooperation but we must play our role and I can assure you that we would do something to bring a change and make this country more secure.”

     

  • Police arrest six suspects in connection with Senate invasion, mace theft

    The Nigeria Police Force has arrested six suspects in connection with last week’s invasion of the Senate and theft of its mace.

    However, investigation into the incident was still ongoing as at press time.

    Recall that some thugs had on April 18 invaded the Senate, beat up some Sergeants-at-arm and went away with the mace.

    But following a 24-hour ultimatum issued to the Nigerian police, the mace was found under a bridge in Abuja.

    Findings indicated that a monitoring committee raised by the Inspector-General of Police and headed by a Commissioner of Police had closed in on eight suspects.

    But six of the suspects have been arrested by the said team.

    A top police source, who spoke in confidence, said: “So far, the police have arrested six suspects in connection with the attack on the Senate and the theft of mace.

    “The suspects, who are being interrogated, include some sighted in the chamber and those allegedly outside it.

    “They have all denied their alleged involvement in the invasion. What we need to do is to analyse the video clips and juxtapose these with the images of those in custody.

    “At the appropriate time, we will release the names of the suspects after they have been properly identified.

    “Those in the net claimed that they were mistakenly suspected.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Preliminary investigation confirmed that these thugs were stopped by the police from entering the Senate wing, but a senator cleared them that they were with him.

    “We may have to interact with those policemen on duty to identify the senator who insisted that the hoodlums must be allowed to enter. We may also interact with the senator.

    “All I can tell you now is that investigation is still in progress. The probe team is headed by a Commissioner of Police.”

    The Senate has however insisted that the culprits must be brought to book.

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, described the invasion as a “disgrace.”

    He said: “What happened was a disgrace. It made no sense if you think about it, and it was a very primitive adventure.

    “If they were looking for a routine change, it was better they followed due process.

    “If you were to impeach the President, for instance, you go through the impeachment process and involve the House.

    “You will have to get a simple majority or three quarters of the members to get him out. And where you are unable to do that, you simply walk away.”

    The Deputy Senate President, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, had spoken on the incident at the Presidential Villa.

    He said: “For us, it’s a threat to our democracy. The invasion of the parliament is not acceptable to any person. It’s not acceptable to me, it’s not acceptable to the VP, it’s not acceptable to my colleagues.

    “I believe it’s not also acceptable to the president. So, those who acted this script must be on their own.

    “All we need to do as a country is to ensure that this is forestalled, and I want to appeal to the media to help us discourage this kind of brigandage so that people have to behave in a very responsible manner.

    “Police is still investigating, we are going to find out the details of those who aided him to come in and then some of them, I believe, have been arrested and we will get to the root of the matter.”

     

  • Suspension of elected representatives and Senate’s Mace saga, By Carl Umegboro

    By Carl Umegboro

    The legislature has over the years played politics to the extreme by repeatedly, egotistically misappropriating its gavel in contradiction of democratic norm, and severally, conceitedly axed opposing colleagues that were elected by the people in their respective senatorial districts and constituencies for their counterparts at the House of Representatives or Assembly. By democratic norms, the electorates freely and wittingly bid their mandate to some persons to exercise the sovereignty on their behalf as their representatives and therefore can only be removed from workplace by the people. The fundamental principle guiding all rules and laws is Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended which emphatically makes the provisions of the constitution superior to all other laws including the Senate Rules. Irrefutably, the constitution recognises Delta state as a part of the federation and equally empowered it to be represented by senators as other states. In other words, the action of the senate recently by suspending a duly elected legislator, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege representing Delta central senatorial district is clearly a display of disdain and naivety, and above all, constitutes a robbery against the entire people of the area.

    By the grotesque intrigues, the entire population of the senatorial district being represented is unconsciously, impliedly kicked out from the federal government by shutting out their representative from participating in legislative businesses, sadly by elected colleagues. Frankly speaking, the action fell below the bar of decorum. This aberration gravely portends danger as any acts of the parliament during the period of such unlawful suspension cannot legally stand without carrying along the senatorial district that is likewise a stakeholder in the national project. Succinctly, all resolutions during the unlawful moratorium should logically be null and void as it is a legitimate right of all senatorial districts and constituencies to be part of policies for the nation. The risk in sustaining the noxious, malevolent and mischievous scheme is that it could someday extensively be used as a political tool of oppression against a district, constituency or geographical zone that genuinely clamors for welfare of its population such that its representative may also be kicked out ahead of the plenary.

    Imperatively, election and recall, apart from orders of the court afford the electorates rights to ‘hire and fire’ those they endorsed for public offices. It therefore becomes inconceiveable that legislators, duly elected with certificate-of-return and consequently sworn-in to represent their people can only exercise the mandate by the discretion of other elected colleagues. The mandate to represent the people in the Senate, House of Representatives or Assembly is not in any way a shared responsibility or conditional, but sacrosanct; exclusively determined by the people. And even if a colleague is found guilty of any violations including in-house rules, the appropriate people to call the shorts or cut short the primary duties are the electorates. At most, the legislative chamber can withdraw privileged benefits it freely allotted by partisan considerations where violation is substantiated against the colleague. That’s the extent House Rules can go except where such rules are not inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution unlike the present quagmire. Thus, no legislative body has powers to shut out a bona fide legislator elected to represent a group of people in legislative businesses of the nation.

    Democracy is etymologically, the government of the people, by the people and for the people. It therefore connotes that the people plays fundamental roles in any democratic system as it is virtually all about the people. Thus, where the representative of the people is denied access into government businesses, it is tantamount to intimidation, terrorization and muzzling of the entire people being represented. To sum, the action of the senate is aptly treasonous and felonious; criminal offenses punishable with terms of imprisonments against the perpetrators. It is clearly hostilities against Section 14(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, and inimical to corporate existence of the nation. Politics must be played within the borders. To barefacedly and recklessly shut out or suspend, even for a day, a legislator that represents a legitimate group recognized by the nation’s constitution for whatever reasons let alone frivolities and partisanship is the height of law-breaking and should expeditiously attract full wraths of the law. A legislator that contravenes in-house rules may lose secondary assigned positions or duties but not the primary duties assigned by the electorates which is similar to shutting out the entire people of the district or constituency from participation in the government.

    As it stands, the senate has by its reckless action unconsciously suspended the entire people of Delta central senatorial district from legislative businesses of the country for ninety days. That’s the height of provocation in a democracy and believably, without the provocative attack on the people, the disgraceful snatching of the Senate Mace, albeit condemned in strong terms, wouldn’t have occurred. Probably, the jumbo allowances the lawmakers covetously allocated to themselves made them forget the concept of representation of the legislature vis-à-vis the people. Emphatically, the legislative arm albeit misconstrued by politicians is the peoples’ corner. The National Assembly transcends a legislative building rather an assembly or gathering of representatives of all nationalities and ethnic groups. A legislator is irrespective of his height or status, apparently the symbol of the constituency he represents and therefore any actions against him is directed at his people. Comparatively, suspending or shutting out an elected representative from the parliament is not different from removing a member-nation’s flag from the ECOWAS or United Nations headquarters. Unfortunately, true democracy largely remains a myth in the contemporary society instead, draining of the people flourishes as a common goal. To digress, it is indeed upsetting that most allocations made for constituency projects for districts and constituencies in the country end up in foreign countries for acquiring exquisite properties for ‘distinguished senators and honorable members’. What an inhumanity to man!

    Umegboro, public affairs analyst writes from Abuja via umegborocarl@gmail.com (07057101974 SMS only)

  • Senate invasion, mace theft was blessing in disguise – APC Senator

    Senator Abu Ibrahim (APC-Katsina South) has described the Wednesday’s invasion of the Senate Chamber by hoodlums as a “positive development’’.

    He stated this on Friday while he fielded questions from State House correspondents in Abuja.

    Some hoodlums had on Wednesday entered the Senate chamber during plenary, attacked some persons and made away with the mace.

    The legislator, however, observed that the attack was a blessing in disguise as the incident had revealed the security lapse at the assembly.

    “Obviously, what has happened is a concern to every Nigerian politician. But, at the same time, we have to accept in Nigeria or all over the world politics sometimes can create a situation of this kind of what happened.

    “But this has given us two opportunities; one, to look at the security of the National Assembly itself whereby I think Nigerian National Assembly is the most insecure assembly I have seen in my life.

    “Wherever I went to there was good security, you can’t just go in, you cannot access, you cannot go to officers.

    “But now if you go to our offices, like my office yesterday there were over 50 people waiting for me and I didn’t give anybody appointment.

    “So, this has probably influenced us in the leadership to sit down and critically examine the security of the National Assembly itself. So, it is a positive development.’’

    He said the second `benefit’ of the Mace saga was that members of the Senate became more united, and they renewed their pledge to abide by the constitution and rules of the national assembly.

    According to the senator, the incident has also afforded the senators opportunity to ask themselves questions on what happened and why it happened.

    He said: “Secondly we sat at executive session as senators, we asked ourselves what happened and why. And we told ourselves the truth.

    “We even pin-pointed culprits in what led to this and we came out with a promise that everyone of us will support and abide by the provision of the constitution.

    “Our rules in the national assembly in the Senate and obviously we accepted that we are all senators, the same rank, elected by our people and we have the same right and privileges.

    “Therefore, this is the second benefit if we can call it benefit of what has happened what we saw two days ago.’’

    On the activities of the Buhari Support Group, Ibrahim disclosed that the group would be inaugurating its offices in Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States on Monday.

    He added that the group’s campaign buses would also be inaugurated at the same time.

     

  • Senate summons Police IG, DG DSS over invasion, stolen mace

    Sequel to the invasion of the Senate and subsequent theft of the mace by some thugs suspected to be loyal to a suspended member, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, the leadership of the Senate has resolved to summon the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and the Director-General of the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Lawal Daura.

    Recall that the mace was stolen from the Senate chamber on Wednesday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that at about 11:50 a.m., a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Habila Joshak, handed over the mace to the clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, after it was said to have been found under a bridge in Abuja.

    After over one hour of closed-door session on Thursday, the presiding officer, Ike Ekweremadu, confirmed the retrieval of the mace.

    “This hallowed chamber supported by the House of Representatives demanded that the Inspector-General of Police recover and return the stolen mace to the Senate within 24 hours. Concerned colleagues and Nigerians who wanted to find out if the mace has been found have inundated me with calls and messages since last night. Let me therefore formally confirm to you that the mace has been recovered and returned by the police as demanded by this hallowed chamber.”

    Ekweremadu announced the intention of the Senate to invite Idris and Daura next week to brief them on whatever they have found out in their investigation of the matter.

    He added that the lawmakers have resolved that appropriate sanctions be meted out to all security personnel and individuals fingered in the invasion.

    “Nevertheless, we believe there should be consequences for bad behaviour. We swore to uphold the laws of Nigeria and the principles of rule of law. It still beats the imagination of Nigerians and the civilised world that the attackers passed through several security checks and barriers of the National Assembly and gained access into this chamber and also escaped with the mace into the thin air despite the well-known fortified surroundings of this parliament. Therefore, we ruled that it will be a detour to the state of nature when life was lawless and brutish if what happened yesterday was allowed to go unpunished or to be swept under the carpet. It will never happen. We’ll get to the root of this matter.

    “We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police and DG SSS to ensure that all those who plotted, aided, abetted and executed this dastardly affront on our democracy and belittled Nigeria before the international community must be brought to book to serve as deterrence to others. We will be inviting them next week to brief us.”

    The Deputy Senate President however used the opportunity to again advocate for a decentralised police system which he said would have prevented the attack.

    He said, “This incident has also brought to the fore the case many have always made for the decentralised police system. Ordinarily, a big institution like the National Assembly should have its own police apart from the sergeant-at-arms. However, the security of this parliament is fully outside the control of the National Assembly. Instructively, the same gangsterism that was witnessed here yesterday has been recorded in various state houses of assemblies.

    “I want to assure Nigerians that we will never waver in the responsibilities they have elected us to shoulder. We will all stand together to defend this institution of the parliament and our democracy. We will never fear to legislate and we will never legislate out of fear.”

  • BREAKING: Police recover Senate’s stolen mace under Abuja bridge

    The police in the early hours of Thursday announced the recovery of the mace stolen from the Senate on Wednesday.

    The announcement of the recovery of the mace was contained in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood.

    Moshood said in the statement: “Sequel to the invasion of the Senate Chambers of the National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 18th April, 2018 by some suspected thugs who disrupted the Senate Plenary Session and carted away the Mace of the Red Chambers, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K.

    Idris NPM, mni, immediately instituted a high-powered Police Investigation and Intelligence Team coordinated by the IGP Monitoring Unit of the Force and further directed a total lock-down of the Federal Capital Territory with intense surveillance patrol and thorough Stop and Search Operations at various Police check-points with a view to arresting perpetrators and possible recovery of the stolen Mace.

    “The Police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which forced the suspected miscreants to abandon the Mace at a point under the flyover before the City Gate, where a patriotic passer-by saw it and alerted the Police.

    “While a discreet investigation into the incident is still ongoing to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Nigeria Police Force appreciates the spirited members of the public, most especially motorists within Abuja Metropolis for their support, cooperation and timely information during the rigorous stop and search operations for the recovery of the Mace.

    “The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to guarantee protection of Lives and Property, Peace and Stability and sustain democracy in the country remains unequivocal and unwavering.”