‘Mace Thief’, Omo-Agege, becomes DSP as Principal Officers emerge in Nigeria’s NASS
‘Mace Thief’ becomes DSP as Principal Officers emerge in Nigeria’s NASS
Members of Nigeria’s National Assembly on Tuesday elected their principal officers who will run the affairs of the legislators in the next four years unless they are removed.
Most interesting is the emergence of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as the Deputy Senate President. Omo-Agege was nick-named ‘The Mace Thief’ following his role on April 18, 2018 when the Mace of the Senate was stolen by political thugs loyal to him. Other people called him ‘The Mace Runner’
The ruling party had their way as all principal officers were won by All Progressive Congress (APC) members. Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan has become the Senate President, taking over from Bukla Saraki.
About 10 suspected thugs in April 2018 stormed the Senate Chamber with Omo-Agege and forced their entrance into the chamber.
Seconds later, the thugs 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.
The mace is the symbol of authority of the parliament.
One of the security personnel at the entrance of the National Assembly said the thugs told him and other officers they were with the senator.
“We tried to stop them but they told us they were with him (Omo-Agege),” he said.
The senators are yet to reconvene as at the time of filing this report.
How thugs stole Senate mace
The Senate has accused a lawmaker, Ovie Omo-Agege, of leading hoodlums to seize the mace, which serves as the chamber’s symbol of authority.
Omo-Agege was suspended by his colleagues.
Premium Times reported: “The police arrested suspended senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, at the National Assembly premises.
Mr Omo-Agege was whisked away in a black hilux van at about 1:54 p.m.
The arrest is in connection to the theft of the Senate mace, hours earlier.
Senate spokesperson, Sabi Abdullahi, accused the senator of leading hoodlums to the Senate chamber to seize the mace.
Mr Omo-Agege after the incident returned to the chamber”