The Senate refused to stop plenary on Wednesday afternoon after some thugs suspected to be working for a suspended member, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege invaded the Senate and hijacked the mace leading to commotion.
An improvised mace was provided pending the recovery of the stolen one.
However, the Senate leadership has alerted security agencies to fish out the culprits and also recover the mace within 24 hours.
It also said the invasion and subsequent hijacking of the mace in an act of treason and all those behind it will be treated as such.
Newsclickng.com reports that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was not in Nigeria when the incident took place.
The Senate, reacting in a statement said the invasion was a treat to the nation’s democracy.
Read full statement below:
Today, some armed hoodlums led by suspended Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, walked into the Senate plenary and seized the symbol of authority of the Upper Legislative Chamber, the mace.
This action is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such. All security agencies must stand on the side of due process and immediately mobilise their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the mastermind and the perpetrators of this act.
This action is also an affront on the legislature, and the leadership of the House has come to express their support against this action.
The Senate is now in an Executive session.
An updated statement will be released immediately after the closed door session.
