Senate Defers To Court, Averts Clash With Omo-Agege

OrderPaperToday – The Senate has  decided to soft-pedal on its earlier stance on the judicial clearance for Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta) to resume his legislative duties, saying it has been advised that the senator can indeed attend plenary.

Recall that a Federal High Court in Abuja on May 10, 2018 nullified the suspension slammed on the Delta senator and ordered that his allowances be paid for the period he was locked out by his colleagues. But in a swift reaction and true to precedence set with previous suspension cases, the Senate announced that it had filed a notice of appeal and stay of execution.

However, the embattled Sen. Omo-Agege had told reporters on Monday in Abuja that he would resume sitting on Tuesday to enforce the ruling of the court.

In a statement late Monday night, the Senate agreed with Omo-Agege, saying it had been advised by lawyers.

The statement, signed by Sen. Aliyu Sabi, spokesman of the upper chamber, reads: “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.

“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.”

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