ABUJA – Senate yesterday directed its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate alleged defamation of the red chamber by Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central).
The Senate panel is to confirm whether or not, an allegation that Sen. Omo-Agege has declared to the news media, that a decision taken by the National Assembly to alter the order of 2019 general election was targeted at President Buhari is true.
The Sen. Samuel Anyanwu led Senate panel is also, to determine wether or not, the Senate resolution on election sequence was actually targetted at President Muhammadu Buhari is true.
This was sequel to a complaint by Sen. Dino Melaye that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege had made a statement to the press amongst other things, that the decision taken by the Senate was targeted at Mr. President.
He was pained that his person has been misconstrued to witch hunt individuals with his sincere contributions to matters of national interest.
Dino declared that he would not be a part of that false castigation and name calling. He therefore, urged the Senate to investigate the matter.
“I cannot be part of any group of persons; I swore on oath on the 9th of June 2015; if decisions in this Senate is now being teleguided and targeted at any particular person, then that is no longer democracy; that statement to me is weighty.
I personally campaigned and followed the President to 35 states of the Federation. The only place I did not follow him to was Yobe, where we did not even go throughout the campaign.
When I was following Buhari to campaign to become the President of this country, Ovie Omo-Agege was labouring in the Labour Party.
Today, to take the decision of the Senate, the integrity of the Senate put together, that it was tailored towards targeting a particular person, it is unheard of, it is in bad taste; and I do not want to be part of that.
I want to add that this statement was made by Omo-Agege among other statements, that the Committee on Ethics and Privileges need to investigate this matter and find out if truly our decision was made and targeted at Mr President among other issues raised by him.
That was not enough, another interview was granted and I will want to state categorically that I will not be part of any group or decisions that will be targeted at a particular character, talk less of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he continued.
In his ruling Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu referred the order cited by Senators Melaye to the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back within two weeks.
Senator Omo-Agege, is to face a probe from the Senate for allegedly criticizing the sequence of election passed by National Assembly and for claiming that art was meant to frustrate President Muhammadu Buhari.
Recall that Lawmakers had protested against the adoption of the report by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on the Amendment to the Electoral Act.
The opposing lawmakers believed that the amendment to Section 25(1) which, has changed the sequence of the election for the conduct of the National Assembly to come first, followed by Governorship and State Houses of Assembly, before that of the Presidential was targeted at President Buhari. ?
The Senate once suspended Sen. Ali Ndume, former Leader of the Senate, for attempting to ridicule the corporate image of the Senate of the Federal Republic.
He had asked for investigation of alleged importation of a bullet proof range rover with fake documents by Senate President Bukola Saraki.
He also canvassed investigation of alleged perjury involving Dino Melaye. The request was subsequently refered to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which turned in a clean bill of health for the Saraki and Melaye.
