’NASS lacks power to probe alleged crimes’

National Assembly

Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy on Wednesday accused Senator Ovie Omo-Agege(Delta Central) of abusing the judicial process and the generosity of the leadership of the Senate.

Misau claimed that some of Omo-Agege’s actions were aimed at bringing down the institution of the Senate to which he belongs.

The Bauchi Central Senator stated this in reaction to the court injunction which Omo-Agege obtained on Tuesday from a High Court in Bwari-Abuja, restraining the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives from considering the report of an ad hoc committee set up by both chambers to investigate the invasion of the Senate Chamber by some hoodlums who carted away the mace the symbol of authority of the parliament.

 Misau, in a statement released in Abuja, noted that Omo-Agege’s suit is frivolous.

He said: “The court cannot stop the legislature from the performance of its constitutional duties. Some hoodlums attacked the Senate chamber on live television during plenary and inflicted injury on workers on April 18, 2018.

“The leadership set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate what happened and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence and months after the committee had submitted its report, a Senator rushed to court when he heard that there was a push for the report to be considered before the life of the present Senate expires. He wants to prevent the report of the committee from being considered.

“In fact, his action has shown the reason why the Senate should actually go ahead and consider the report and act on it, no matter the odds.

“Omo-Agege has dared the Senate. Now, he should face the music. I blame the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki for delaying on the consideration of the report.

“The Eighth Senate is winding down and the general view of members is that before we leave, all outstanding reports should be considered and acted upon.

“If Omo-Agege does not have any hidden agenda, why is he seeking to stop the consideration of the report, after all, he was given fair hearing to state his own case before the panel?

“He is probably running helter-skelter now because he wants to become Deputy Senate President and he knows that if we adopt the recommendation of the committee, the outcome will affect his ambition. This is the reason why people should always consider the future implications of their actions.”

He, however, implored the Senate leadership to move swiftly to vacate the injunction granted to Omo-Agege by the Bwari court and ensure nothing stops the Senate from getting to the roots of that invasion by hoodlums.

Omo-Agege, in a swift response to Misau’s statement, described it as completely misplaced.

For him, the statement is akin to “the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob.”

He noted it is elementary to know that nowhere in the constitution is the National Assembly and or its leadership granted the power to investigate crimes.

Omo-Agege said, “This is the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob. It is cowardly for Saraki to have Senator Misau sign his (Saraki’s) press release. Saraki needs to brush up on his knowledge of the constitution and the law.

“Nowhere in the Constitution is he granted the right to investigate crimes. He should be counselled that the ancillary powers derivable from section 88 of the 1999 constitution must be exercised in furtherance of lawmaking and not witch-hunting. Only the Nigeria police have the powers to investigate crimes.

“Omo-Agege has not dared the Senate and would never do so. He has instead dared Saraki to continue with his impunity and bigotry at his own peril.

“The Kwara electorate has had enough of Saraki’s impunity and excesses and so do we.

“A terminal date has been fixed and in a while, the whole country will be breathing a sigh of relief.”

In This Story:#OvieOmo-Agege #AbubakarBuklaSaraki #SenatorMisau

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