Senate backpedals, won’t stop Omo-Agege from resuming

Ebun Francis|

The Nigerian Senate on Monday night backed off its earlier stance not respect the Abuja court order nullifying the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, since it has filed an appeal, in a higher court.

But in a statement by its spokesman, Senator Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi,  the upper legislative chamber said it will not stop Senator Ovie Omo-Agege from attending plenary on Tuesday, in compliance with a Federal High Court order.

The statement read, “The Senate leadership has been briefed by our lawyers on last Thursday 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.

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“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 has been advised that since the motion for stay of execution of the Thursday (May 10, 2018) judgement shall be heard and possibly determine on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, we shall, therefore, respect the subsisting High Court judgement and await the appellate court decision on the pending motion”, said Sabi Abdullahi.

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Last week Thursday, a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the suspension of Omo-Agege for 90 days by his colleagues and declared it illegal.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ordered his reinstatement with immediate effect.

The senator representing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta Central, was suspended by the Senate because he openly criticised the amendment of election sequence carried out by the Senate.

The Delta state Senator had earlier on Monday said he will attend Tuesday’s plenary in compliance with Justice Dimgba Igwe’s ruling.