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Tag: omo-agege

  • BREAKING: Court nullifies Omo-Agege’s suspension by Senate

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the suspension of the Delta Central Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, by the Senate, describing the action as unconstitutional.

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a judgment that lasted one hour on Thursday, held that while the National Assembly had the power to discipline its erring members, the premise on which Omo-Agege’s suspension was anchored was illegal.

    Although the court refused to grant any of the seven prayers sought by the senator, ‎it held that the suspension could not hold on grounds of the “violence” it did to the Constitution.

    The judge noted that from the wording of the report of the Senate’s Ethics and Privileges Committee which recommended Omo-Agege’s suspension, he was punished for filing a suit against the Senate after apologising to the legislative house over the allegation leveled against him.

    “Access to court is a fundamental right in the Constitution, which cannot be taken away by force or intimidation from any organ,” the judge ruled.

    The judge also added that the Senate’s decision to punish Omo-Agege for filing a suit against the Senate and for punishing him while his suit was pending constituted an affront on the judiciary.

    He added that even if the Senate had rightly suspended the senator, it could only have suspended him for only a period of 14 days — as prescribed in the Senate rules.

    He also ruled that the principle of natural justice was breached by the Senate’s Ethics and Privileges Committee by allowing Senator Dino Melaye, who was the complainant, to participate in the committee’s sitting that considered the issue and also allowed him to sign the committee’s report.

    The judge therefore nullified Omo-Agege’s suspension “with immediate effect.”

    He also ordered that the senator be paid all his allowances and salaries for the period he was illegally suspended.

    The Senate had, on April 13, suspended the senator for 90 legislative days over his comment that the amendment to the Electoral Act 2010 seeking the re-ordering of the general elections was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Meanwhile, Omo-Agege had filed his suit on March 26, 2018, earlier before he was suspended by the Senate on April 13.

    He sought, among other prayers in his suit, a declaration that his referral by the Senate and the Senate President’s referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions “for trial for expressing his opinion on the purport” of the bill “is an act calculated to interfere with or likely to constitute a breach” of his fundamental human right to freedom of expression without interference.

    He claimed that his rights allegedly breached by the Senate were guaranteed by Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 9(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

    He also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from interfering with his rights and or privileges as a senator and preventing him from entering “or remaining within the precinct or chamber of the Senate or National Assembly or attempting to forcibly remove him from the chamber or precinct of the National Assembly or in any way impeding or undermining the plaintiff’s ability to function as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    He joined the Senate, its President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; and the AGF as the first to the third defendants respectively.

  • Omo-Agege congratulates Delta APC for successful ward congress

    Senator representing Delta Central senatorial district in the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege on Monday congratulated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) particularly the Delta state chapter for successfully conducting its ward congresses across the country.

    This was revealed in a statement released on his behalf by his media office.

    Recall that party held its ward congresses across the country on Saturday, May 5, 2018.

    Read full statement below:

    CONGRATULATIONS TO APC DELTA STATE FOR SUCCESSFUL WARD CONGRESSES

     

    1.0. The Most Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege joins his fellow leaders in the Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) to congratulate the entire APC family on the official Ward Congresses results just announced by the Congress Organising Committee headed by Alhaji Sanni Dododo. By the official results duly endorsed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies, our Party’s grassroots across almost all 270 Wards in Delta has chosen a new reality that demands total focus on APC’s resolve to defeat the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general elections. Today’s results confirm that our grassroots want unity of purpose, not divisiveness or acrimony.

     

    2.0. Senator Omo-Agege is particularly thankful to the Alhaji Dododo Committee for its steadfastness and total respect for the rules of the game. He is equally grateful to our security agencies for rising up to the unique demands of the exercise. His gratitude also goes to the officials of INEC who monitored the Congresses. The Obarisi of Urhoboland is especially grateful to and congratulates all APC leaders, members and supporters for the progressive outcome. Because our Party has just received fresh, trusted leadership, everybody is a winner. All, especially the new Ward Executives, have a duty to urgently unite and reconcile the party. We should never be tempted to believe that our fellow party men and women are losers or lesser members of the Party. That should never happen. We must work together.

     

    3.0. For Delta Central Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Omo-Agege hereby specially congratulates all Ward Executives elected in the 85 Wards. Even in the midst of avoidable challenges, they remained focused on the real prize of leading our Party to better territories. At his immediate home front of Ughelli North Local Government, the following leaders were returned as Ward Chairman and Secretary respectively: Akpomedaye Stephen and Epete Lucky (Ward 1); Ogortanure Ativie Perry and Umukoro Wilson Edojah(Ward 2); Oviri Andrew and Alfred Umukoro (Ward 3); Gabriel Orogun and Solomon Erharadjeke(Ward 4); Austin Asaware and Omokri Anthony (Ward 5); Useh Etawarien Peter and Eko Wilson (Ward 6); Enajome Monday and Wilson Egbenine (Ward 7); Akpobasa Solomon and Avwiariemu Benjamin (Ward 8); Samuel Evinighono and Atagadama Hezekiah (Ward 9); Patrick Evuarherhe and Oshare Francis (Ward 10) and Mayor Okeh and Pastor Obire Oghenewarho (Ward 11). We congratulate them heartily.

     

    4.0. Finally, the Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege strongly appeals to all our leaders and members to put the collective interest of our people beyond self. Progressive party politics is about the people. For their sake, let us summon the courage to unite our Party and direct our electoral arsenal against the PDP. Our determination to defeat and take out PDP from Delta is not small at all. We need all hands, including new friends and alliances to win comprehensively in 2019. God bless us all.

     

    Signed:

    Prince Efe Duku

    For: The Office of Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

  • APC ward congress: Stop blood-letting, violent attacks – Omo-Agege warns politicians

    Senator representing Delta Central senatorial district in the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege on Monday condemned the attack and subsequent blood-letting that trailed Saturday’s ward congress, especially in Delta State.

    This was revealed in a statement released on his behalf by his media office.

    Recall that there were reported cases of irregularities and violent attacks in the ward congresses. One person was reportedly killed in Delta while some APC secretariat were vandalised.

    Read full statement below:

    STOP BLOOD-LETTING AND THE VIOLENT ATTACKS

    Troubled by the unprovoked, premeditated and targeted bloody violence unleashed on our people in the course of the 2018 Ward Congresses of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, this Office hereby issues this statement on behalf of Most Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, The Obarisi of Urhoboland himself:

    1.0. Senator Omo-Agege strongly and totally condemns the senseless and cold-hearted murder of Jeremiah Oghoveta, a frontline Chairmanship aspirant of the APC in Ward 10 (Jeremi III) of Ughelli South. The chilly allegation that this admirably peaceful young leader and pro-Ogboru and pro-Omo-Agege grassroots mobiliser was heartlessly murdered by his own kinsman (possibly with the aid and comfort of others) for political motives is a horrible desecration of the sacredness of human life in Urhoboland.

    2.0. On behalf of all persons of good conscience, Senator Omo-Agege extends his heartfelt condolences to the Oghoveta family for the painful murder of Jeremiah whose unwavering commitment to right causes placed him above many as a leader. The Obarisi trusts the Police authorities to carry out a thorough and speedy investigation of this murder. Justice will be done. Justice for Jeremiah, to his murderer(s) and for society at large. Whoever has a hand in this murder will face the harshest consequences prescribed under the law.

    3.0. Also, this Office is alarmed by the near-death attacks on Comrade Chuks Erhire (Director General, Senator Omo-Agege Constituency Office), Barrister Ejiro Etaghene (vocal media supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Great Ogboru and Senator Omo-Agege) and Hon. Julius Akpovoka (ardent supporter of Chief Great Ogboru and Senator Omo-Agege). They were all admitted to hospital in critical emergency states when, without any provocation whatsoever, hundreds of thugs allegedly hired by a politician and led by his lackeys went after them at Orchids Hotel, Asaba on May 6, 2018, obviously for their political tendencies. Comrade Erhire and Barrister Etaghene are still in coma or critical state in the hospital.

    4.0. Without question, these attacks are distasteful and unjustifiable. We see no positive gains for any political leader or aspiring political leader who directly or indirectly harms or kills people, including his party members and kinsmen? Such evil has no place in our society and the APC. We will never allow it. We will resist it with all our strengths under the law. Our national security apparatus will be encouraged to deal decisively with this rampaging murderous tendency. This is a firm promise.

    5.0. Finally, we must strongly advise and warn the orchestrators and executors of these violent attacks to rethink their strategies for the 2019 general elections. For the good of our people, the path of peace is the best way. They must know that blood-stained hands and dark and guilty consciences will not promote them. They must remember that people have a right to self defence too. Also, even with genuine calls for restraint and brotherly forgiveness, brotherly reprisals are sometimes difficult to curtail. May we not get there.

  • AGF, Malami declares Senate’s suspension of Omo-Agege illegal

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Mr Abubakar Malami, (SAN) told the Federal High Court Abuja on Monday that the suspension of Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege was unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.

    Malami, who is the 3rd defendant in the ongoing suit brought by Omo-Agege challenging his suspension from the Senate, made his position known through his counsel, Mr Dayo Apata.

    Apata, who doubles as the Solicitor-General of the Federation, in his submission, said that the role of the AGF was to defend and protect the constitution, adding that he had to react to any issue that had to do with the constitution.

    “According to Section 4(8), 39, 40 of the Constitution and Articles of the African Charter on Human Rights, all the actions of the senate relating to the suspension of the plaintiff (Omo-Agege) are unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.”

    The solicitor-general urged the court to hold that the senate’s actions were unlawful.

    Mr Mahmud Magaji (SAN), counsel to the Senate and the Senate President, in his submission, urged the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the senator had himself, participated in the suspension of other senators.

    “The plaintiff is not an ordinary senator but a lawyer and a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

    “He has participated in several committee meetings leading to the suspension of other senators such as Ndume, so he who lives by the sword, should die by the sword.

    “He who has participated in the suspension of his colleagues cannot now run to the court for protection.

    “He swore to an oath to be bound by the rules of the senate, including the standing orders,” Magaji said.

    Mr Alex Iziyon (SAN), counsel to Omo-Agege in his submission, prayed the court to consider what had been done by the senate as an affront to the dignity of the court.

    Iziyon argued that the court had the powers to pull down what has been done by the senate.

    He said this was on the grounds that while the matter was still pending in court, the senate went ahead and slammed the 90 legislative days suspension on his client.

    Having listened to submissions from all the counsel, the judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, adjourned the matter until May 10 to deliver judgment.

    Earlier, the court refused an application by Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and Sen. Bala Ibn Na’allah, Chairman and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and other Petitions.

    The senators had applied to be joined as parties in the suit but the court refused on the grounds that they were not necessary parties in the suit.

    Mr Paul Erokoro (SAN), counsel to both senators, had urged the court to allow them to be joined as parties by virtue of the fact that they were chairman and vice chairman of the committee.

    “They are necessary parties in this suit because it is the report their committee produced that the plaintiff seeks to impugned and set aside.

    “Moreover, whatever decision the court takes will affect them and members of the committee because their personal conduct is being questioned,” Erokoro said.

    Omo-Agege, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, filed the suit to challenge his suspension from the senate.

    He asked the court to among other reliefs, grant an order restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or officers from interfering with his rights and privileges as a senator.

  • Court adjourns Omo-Agege’s suit against Senate till April 30

    The Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday fixed April 30 to hear a suit filed by suspended senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, against the Senate, the Senate President and Attorney-General of the Federation.

    Mr Omo-Agege, who represents Delta Central Senatorial district, filed the suit to challenge his suspension from the Senate.

    The judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba fixed the date after refusing to vacate an earlier order he made granting accelerated hearing of the matter.

    Alex Izinyon (SAN), Counsel to Mr Omo-Agege, had approached the court with an ex parte motion seeking an injunction against the Senate, but the court declined.

    The court then asked Mr Izinyon to put the respondents on notice.

    Mr Dimgba ordered that the Senate and Senate president should show cause why the reliefs sought by the senator should not be granted.

    The court gave the respondents seven days to show cause, ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter and adjourned to April 27, for definite hearing.

    However, when the matter was called, Mr Izinyon informed the court that he was ready to move his motion saying that the matter was slated for hearing of the substantive case.

    Mr Izinyon also told the court that the respondents had been duly served with the originating summon.

    But Mahmud Magaji, (SAN), counsel to the Senate and Senate president, raised an objection, saying that he had filed a memorandum of conditional appearance.

    Mr Magaji said he filed an application, seeking the court to set aside its order which granted abridgement of time to hear the matter.

    The counsel maintained that he was just briefed of the matter on April 19, and that he had not sighted any of the originating processes.

    The judge, however, said that the court had proof that the Senate and the Senate president had been served through clerk of the Senate.

    “I have to protect the integrity of the court. On two occasions, this court has respected the Senate and as well, I expect the Senate to respect the court,” Mr Dimgba said.

    He directed the respondents to serve advance copies of their counter affidavits and other processes on the plaintiffs through email, not later than 7 p.m, April 27.

    The judge adjourned the matter until April 30 for hearing of the substantive suit.

    Mr Omo-Agege is asking the court to among other reliefs; grant an order restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or officers from interfering with his rights and privileges as a Senator.

    “An order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or officers from interfering with the plaintiff’s rights and or privileges, as a senator.

    The reliefs also including ‘’preventing him from entering or remaining within the precinct or chamber of the Senate or National Assembly”, among others.

  • Delta group blasts Saraki-led senate over Omo-Agege’s suspension

    Some constituents of Delta Central senatorial district on Wednesday condemned Senate President, Bukola Saraki leadership style while demanding a reversal of the suspension of their senator, Ovie Omo-Agege.

    Writing under the umbrella of Delta Central Collective, the constituents threatened to resort to individual or collective representation if their demand is not acceded to.

    Copied in the letter are President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, Attorney-General of the Federation, National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the State Security Service, Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Chairman of National Human Rights Commission and the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command.

    The group submitted the letter to the Senate while staging a protest on Wednesday morning.

    The letter reads, “On Thursday, April 12, 2018, you moved the Senate to again violate the letters and spirit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws by purporting to suspend our Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from the Nigerian Senate for 90 legislative days. By this act, you are now denying our over six (6) million people of Delta Central Senatorial District representation in the Senate. In proper context, we have been constructively and effectively expelled from the 8th Senate. We totally reject this act of impunity as it violates our people’s inalienable constitutional right to elect a Senator of their choice to represent them.

    “The ‘suspension’ of our Senator and Delta Central from the Senate is extremely provocative, considering that Mr. Senate President said that it is a “sanction” against our Senator Omo-Agege for:

    a. associating with about 60 other serving senators as a frontline member and the Secretary of the Parliamentary Support Group (PSG) for President Muhammadu Buhari;

    b. expressing a dissenting opinion on a contentious amendment to Section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010 regarding election sequence to the extent that, “There is a perception out there that the amendment is targeted at Mr. President (Buhari)” – a perception repeatedly confirmed by many authoritative sources; and

    c. seeking proper legal interpretation of the 1999 Constitution in certain areas.”

    The group noted that the offences for which Mr Omo-Agege was suspended cannot be justified under any act of the 1999 Constitution

    “Indeed, under the constitution and law, a senator can only vacate his seat if he dies; resigns; is recalled; decamps from the party on whose platform he was elected (without a division in that party); or he is otherwise removed by an appropriate court.

    “The Senate has no constitutional powers to suspend or nullify a Senator’s election to represent his people. This is the main legal point already settled in rem in the cases of: Ali Ndume v Senate (i.e. also against the 8th Senate where Senator Saraki is Senate President); Bauchi State House of Assembly v. Hon. Danna; Usman v. Kaduna State House of Assembly; and Hon. Melaye v. House of Representatives.”

    “Given that the judgment in the Ndume case is against this 8th Senate that you lead and the 8th Senate did not appeal against it, it stands to reason that you are fully aware of the current state of the law. But somehow, this 8th Senate appears to thrive in extra-constitutional, extra-judicial, unlawful and tyrannical exercise of power and impunity. This must explain your declaration that the PSG must be disbanded before Senator Omo-Agege can return to the Senate! In other words, to you, for Senator Omo-Agege to represent his people, his constitutional rights of association (in PSG), to hold opinions and to seek legal redress must first be extinguished! This is very dangerous for the Rule of Law and our democracy.”

    The constituents said they would not allow Mr Saraki to expel their senator from representing them.

    They requested Mr Saraki to ‘honourably and urgently allow our Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to continue to represent us and our people without any hindrance whatsoever; and if this option fails and we continue to be unrepresented;

    “THAT we shall resort to SELF- or COLLECTIVE REPRESENTATION by coming physically in our numbers to represent ourselves in the Senate, as our removal, without any constitutional basis, from decision-making in the Senate is a very clear existential threat to us in the Nigerian Nation.”

    The protest was still on at the time of filing this report.

  • Senator Omo-Agege’s constituents storm NASS, demands his reinstatement [PHOTOS]

    Aggrieved constituents of the suspended Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial district, Ovie Omo-Agege, under the aegis of Delta Central Collective on Wednesday stormed the National Assembly.

    The protesters who demanded immediate recall of Omo-Agege were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions describing the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki as being authoritative.

    The group, Delta Central Collective submitted a letter to the Senate President, a copy of which was obtained by TheNewsGuru, warned the Senate President that if nothing was done to recall the lawmaker immediately, Niger Deltans would occupy the Senate.

    It also added that failure to recall Omo-Agege should be considered as an invitation to anarchy.

    “We demand that our Senator Ovie Omo-Agege should continue to represent us and notification for self representation pending the resolution of unconstitutional, anarchical and tyrannical suspension by the Senate leadership”, it said.

    The statement :

     

  • APC urges prosecution of mace snatching senator, Omo-Agege

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned in totality, Wednesday’s attack on the Senate and the snatching on the Mace of the senate.

    This is even as it has called on all security agencies to take all necessary actions to recover the stolen mace and ensure that the perpetrators and their sponsors are brought to justice.

    In a statemnet issued by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, the party said that the attack ammounted to an attack on the nation’s democracy.

    “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to the invasion of the Nigerian Senate by suspected thugs who disrupted Wednesday’s plenary and made away with the mace.

    “The APC hereby condemns this action and views it as an attack on our democracy and a desecration of the hallowed institution of the National Assembly.

    “We therefore call on security agencies to take all necessary actions to recover the stolen mace and ensure that the perpetrators and their sponsors are brought to justice.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police has arrested Senator Ovie Omo Agege for leading the hoodlums into the Senate chamber during plenary to snatch the Mace whic

  • Video of Sen Omo Agege being led into police hilux van

    The Senator representing Delta Central, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege who allegedly led hoodlums to cart away the national assembly’s mace has been arrested by the Nigerian Police.

    Recall that the senate through its spokesman, Abdullahi Sabi, has described the incident as a treasonable felony and vows the incident will be treated as such.

    Watch video:

     

  • PHOTOS: Police arrest Senator Ovie Omo-Agege over invasion of senate

    The police have arrested Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who was accused of leading thugs to steal the mace at the Senate.

    According to reports reaching TheNewsguru, Omo-Agege was whisked away in a waiting police van.

    A source who spoke to TheNewsGuru.com on the incident said about 10 suspected thugs who came to the venue with the senator forced their entrance into the chamber.

    Seconds later, the hoodlums ran out of the chamber with the mace causing pandemonium in the Senate.

    They left the National Assembly with the mace in a black SUV.

    See photos: