Some hooligans on Wednesday invaded Nigeria’s national assembly in the capital, Abuja, and made away with the official mace, a ceremonial staff that represents the authority of the legislature.
The spokesperson for the Nigerian Senate Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has said that the hoodlums invaded the house led by another senator Ovie Omo-Agege who had been suspended for 90 days.
The said senator is reported to have been arrested by the police.
BREAKING NEWS: Commotion in National Assembly as hoodlums invade Senate chamber, seize mace. @nassnigeria @bukolasaraki @MBuhari @Sumner_Sambo pic.twitter.com/aMBSxKtoYd
— TVC News (@tvcnewsng) April 18, 2018
In a statement the Senate said “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.”
Sabi Abdullahi said the mace was the “symbol of authority” of Nigeria’s upper chamber of parliament.
The legislature has two maces, one for the Senate and one for the House of Representatives.
15 minutes ago, the @NGRSenate resumed plenary after coming out of an Executive (closed door) Session where the earlier incident of forceful removal of the mace was deliberated upon. pic.twitter.com/sYQgmVoN2k
— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) April 18, 2018
Local media reported that the plenary resumed sitting after a new mace was brought into the chamber.
Source: Africafeeds.com
