Senator leadership agrees to obey order and welcome Omo-Agege back into red chamber

LEADERS of the Nigerian senate have agreed to comply with the judgement of the Federal High Court on the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and accept the errant lawmaker back into its fold.

Earlier this month, Senator Omo-Agege representing Delta Central Senatorial District was suspended for 90 legislative days for insulting the National Assembly by stating that its plans to amend the Electoral Act was a personal attack on President Muhammadu Buhari. A passionate supporter of the president, Senator Omo-Agege clashed with his colleagues following their decision to amend the Electoral Act 2010, which governs the sequence of polls in a general election.

After an investigation into the senator's conduct, a committee, found him guilty despite his apology to the chamber and recommended that he be suspended for 181 legislative days, which adds up to about one year. However, senate president Bukola Saraki, pleaded that the duration of the suspension be reduced to 90 days, representing six months, which was unanimously granted.

However, the senator went to court to challenge his suspension and got a ruling in his favour but the senate had pledged to ignore the ruling as the National Assembly is supreme. However, it appears that wise heads have now prevailed and the leaders of the senate have decided to avoid a showdown and constitutional spat.

Senate spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi, said: “As an institution that obeys the law and court orders, the senate has decided that it will comply with the judgement of the Federal High Court and do nothing to stop Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from resuming in his office and at plenary from tomorrow May 15, 2018, pending the determination of the application for stay of execution.  The senate leadership has been briefed by our lawyers on last Thursday’s judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on whether the senate has the legal authority to suspend a member for certain misconduct or not.

“We have equally filed an appeal against the judgement of the court and a motion for stay of execution of the judgement at the Court of Appeal. The Senate has been advised that since the motion for stay of execution of the Thursday May 10, 2018 judgement shall be heard and possibly determined on Wednesday, May 16, , we shall therefore respect the subsisting high court judgement and await the appellate court’s decision on the pending motion.”