Omo-Agege denies allegation, released by police
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he described the action as an attempt to overthrow an arm of government. he said it was treason2 spokesperson of the senate senator aliyu sabi abdullahi accused senator ovie omo-agege of masterminding the snatching of the mace2 the senate chamber was on wednesday invaded by some persons who made away with the mace1 shortly after the mace was stolen the senate accused omo-agege of sending thugs to steal the mace1 omo-agege in his reaction denied involvement in the theft of the mace1 he said he has also left police custody1 a statement by a legal practitioner mr. lucky ajokperniovo for the office of the senator said that he only went to the red chamber on wednesday to resume work and sit for plenary1 he added that he was only invited by the police to speak about his perspective on the incident1 we are aware of several media reports suggesting that senator omo-agege personally removed or encouraged anyone to remove the mace of the senate. this weighty allegation is not true at all1 following the said media reports on the mace issue the police authorities decided to hear from senator omo-agege1 the senator representing delta central has also been released by the police1 senator omo-agege trusts them to thoroughly investigate this very serious matter the statement read in part1 omo-agege also reacted to the statement by the senate spokesperson senator abdullahi sabi accusing him of leading the hoodlums to cart away the mace1 omo-agege described the allegation as very serious1 we are carefully studying senator sabis allegations to ascertain their full ramifications1 appropriate responses will follow as may be necessary omo-ageges statement read1 the mace which is the symbol of authority of the senate was on wednesday snatched by some unidentified men1 the men barged into the chamber of the senate during plenary pushed away the sergeant-at-arms positioned at the entrance and carted away the mace1 the drama coincided with the protest at the national assembly against the suspension of senator ovie omo-agege apc- delta central1 embattled senator ovie omo-agege has denied having anything to do with the wednesdays invasion of the senate chambers and the removal of the mace1 he has told the police his perspective to help them carry out a proper investigation. he has since left the police1

Video: How the Senate mace was snatched
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the senate is now in an executive session.an updated statement will be released immediately after the closed door session he said2 we are determined to conclude all matters slated on the order paper for today even if it means us sitting until 6pm said ekweremadu2 he described the action as an attempt to overthrow an arm of government. he said it was treason2 today some 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 mace2 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 such2 at the moment some house of representatives members led by deputy speaker. hon. yusuf lasun are in the senate chambers in solidarity visits. the session is presently live on nta channel 102 spokesperson of the senate senator aliyu sabi abdullahi accused senator ovie omo-agege of masterminding the snatching of the mace2 the senate has mandated the inspector general of police mr. idris kpotum ibrahim and director general of the state security services sss malam lawan daura to retrieve the mace stolen by the hoodlums within 24 hours2 the session is holding with the mace the official symbol of authority firmly in place and deputy senate president ike ekweremadu presiding2 the senate also decided that it will get to the roots of this sad assault on democracy and an obvious act of treason which the seizure of the mace by some armed hoodlums represents. the hoodlums severely attacked some members of staff of the national assembly particularly the sergeant-at-arms on chamber duties2 in an updated statement abdullahi sabi said the senate resumed plenary after coming out of the executive session where the earlier incident of forceful removal of the mace was deliberated upon1 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 act1 the senate has urged the inspector general of police and the director-general of the department of state services dss to retrieve the mace snatched today by some hoodlums who accompanied senator ovie omo-agege to protest his suspension today1