Mace theft: Senators grill suspects today

The National Assembly Joint Ad hoc Committee investigating the April 18 invasion of the Senate chamber has mandated a Commissioner of Police in charge of Investigative Monitoring Unit in the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Abu Sani, to produce the suspects, today.
The suspects are expected to testify behind closed doors, who ordered the invasion of the senate and other co-conspirators.
Earlier, there was drama between Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and the probe panel when the lawmaker flatly refused to answer questions thrown at him.
Rather, the lawmaker insisted the matter is sub judice, as it was already in court. The session degenerated into a shouting match between Ovie Omo-Agege and the panel.
The tensed meeting commenced at about 12:15pm yesterday, when the chairman of the panel, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, explained why Omo-Agege was invited and that five people, who had so far testified, named him as the arrowhead who led hoodlums into the Red Chamber.
Omo-Agege quickly interjected. He said he would have loved to respond to the allegations, but regretted that the case was already in court and will, therefore, be sub judice.
Na’Allah replied that he was yet to be served to which Omo-Agege retorted: “If you don’t have a copy, I can make one available to you. I need to let you know that this matter is sub judice.”
Again, Na’Allah countered that he had not been served. Again, Omo-Agege insisted senate had been served the court papers on the matter.
Thereafter, Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, David Umaru, told his colleagues not to accept any court papers and insisted that the right approach be adopted by Omo-Agege.
In his response, Omo-Agege listed those who were served and said he is not a coward and that he will respond to any questions posed when the case is decided in court.
Before ruling on the issue, Na’Allah said that in line with Rule 5 of the Senate Standing Rules, as amended, he had the right to determine if a matter in court should be entertained by the parliament to which Omo-Agege responded: “Because I have a pending action in court, I have decided to wait until the outcome of this litigation.” Omo-Agege left the hearing room without responding to any questions posed to him by members of the panel.
On his part, former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, who is also facing the probe panel, was called to testify. He opposed an open discussion and demanded a closed-door session with his colleagues.
“This is a clear order. As a senator, he can call for that. I, respectfully, ask that we go into a closed-door session,” said Na’Allah.
The panel obliged.
-Sun