[Mhiz Rebecca]

The Senate and House of Representatives joint adhoc
committee investigating the April 18 Senate invasion has
summoned two senators.
Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta) and Ali Ndume (APC,
Borno) were summoned for allegedly aiding the invaders
who stole the Senate mace.
The mace was later recovered by the police, who say
they are still investigating the incident.
The chairman of the investigating committee, Bala Ibn
Na’Allah, issued the summon at the committee meeting
in Abuja on Tuesday.
The summon follows testimonies from heads of different
security agencies within the National Assembly alleging
that Mr Omo-Agege led seven unauthorised personnel
into the red chamber and disrupted plenary.
It was also alleged that Mr Ndume hindered the mace
keeper from taking away the mace to safety.
“Based on the testimony of the sergeant at arms before
the committee, you (Mr Ndume) are 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.
“As regards to Omo-Agege, based on the testimony of
the DPO, the SSS 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.
“All those who testified, stated that the said people were
cleared into the chamber based on your confirmation
that they were with you.
“The committee,in pursuance of this,has deemed it
necessary to formally invite you to respond to these
allegations on Wednesday, May 16 at 11:00am,” Mr
Na’Allah read out the format of the letter to be issued to
the summoned lawmakers.
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.
Mr Sulu-Gambari said the Senate invasion was an act of
internal conspiracy among some security agencies and
some lawmakers, confirming an earlier PREMIUM TIMES
report that revealed the complicity of security agencies
in the invasion.
The Senate invasion was condemned by most Nigerians
including the federal government. The two chambers of
the National Assembly subsequently set up a joint
committee to investigate the incident.