DSS in a failed bid to takeover the NASS last month
Top Story

DSS invasion of courtroom: Senate joins House of Reps to launch investigation

87

 

Joining forces with the House of Representatives, the Senate has begun probe of the invasion of a Federal High Court, Abuja, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to rearrest Omoyele Sowore on December 6.

To this end, it has directed its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal matters to investigate the incident which attracted local and global condemnation.

This followed a point of order moved by the Chairman of the committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti).

According to him, the incident had Nigerians had raised a lot of concern in different quarters on the issue.

He said equally the leadership and members of the judiciary were particularly concerned about the development.

Bamidele, a lawyer, reechoeed the nation’s judiciary belief that the courtroom should be a sanctuary.

“The Senate must act on it as representatives of the people.

“I rise to draw the attention of this Senate to a matter that has been in public domain and especially, as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, the reported alleged invasion of the courtroom, again, by alleged officials of the Department of State Services.

“It is one issue that has raised a lot of concern in different quarters in Nigeria.

“The leadership and members of the judiciary are particularly concerned about this development.

“They believe, like the rest of us do, that the courtroom is meant to be a sanctuary; but, for us as Senate, we cannot begin to take a position or analyse the issues based on conclusion without facts that we consider incontrovertible.

“Yet, much as we cannot just jump into conclusions, it is also a fact that we cannot pretend not to know that Nigerians are concerned about this development.

“The reason I have chosen to come under Order 43 is so that I will not generate any controversy or even make the Senate to begin to debate or engage in a debate over an issue in respect of which we still need to have incontrovertible facts and evidence,’’ he said.

Bamidele continued: “In view of this, I just want to say that as elected representatives of the people in whom Nigerians — including the judiciary — must find their voice that we mandate our Committee on National Security and Intelligence to interface with the relevant security agencies.

“They should look into this matter, investigate what happened and report back to the Senate on this matter.”

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Just In: Delta military killings: DHQ declares Prof. Arthur, Amagben, six others wanted

The Defence Headquarters has declared eight people wanted over the recent killing...

Soneye, NNPC Ltd.’s spokesman, wins NIPR’s Distinguished Spokesperson Award

Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company...

Pres. Tinubu pays last respect to 17 soldiers murdered in Delta State

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday extended scholarships to the children of the...

Just in: Bodies of 17 slain gallant soldiers arrive at Abuja military cemetery for burial

The bodies of the 17 military personnel slain recently at Okuama, Delta...

Kidnappers ‘ll be treated as terrorists, they are cowards going after soft targets – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has called for treating those involved in kidnapping as...

Just In: Again, CBN increases interest rate to 24.75 percent

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)...

U.S. bridge collapses after cargo ship collision, casualties feared

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed...

Ease of doing business: NPA MD begins new week working on TinCan Port access road

As part of efforts aimed at consolidating the gains recorded in the...

Just in: How detained Binance Executive Anjarwalla outwits security officials, bolts from custody in Abuja

One of the two Binance executives detained in Abuja for alleged tax...

Breaking: FG files tax evasion charges against Binance

The Federal Government has slammed a four-count charge against Binance, a prominent...

Just in: After 17 days in kidnappers’ den, 287 Kaduna primary school children released

After 17 days in captivity, the 287 Kuriga school children, who were...

In Delta again, six cops shot fatally, six more missing

Barely a week after 17 soldiers including four senior officers were brutally...

Moscow’s terrorist attack: Death toll rises to 115

The Russian investigative committee said at least 115 people have died after...

Water scarcity can fuel conflicts around the world, UN warns

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has warned that...

Insecurity: 16 Nigerian governors endorse state police, constitution review in memos to FG

Amid rising insecurity in the country, the call for state police has...

Transparency, Research, Innovation Driving NNPC Ltd.’s Transformation – EVP Gas, Power, & New Energy

The Executive Vice President, Gas, Power, and New Energy of the Nigerian...

Cost of governance: Tinubu goes tough, slams no-foreign-travel ban on ministers, others for three months

With effect from April 1, 2024, ministers, heads of agencies, and other...

CJN to receive N5.39m monthly, other justices N4.21m as Reps pass judicial officers’ salaries bill

Following the approval of an upward review of the salaries, allowances, and...

FG identifies 15 BDCs, other funders of terrorism, plans sanctions 

The Federal Government says it has identified 15 organizations and persons who...

Murders of 17 officers, soldiers at Okuoma: Tinubu meets with Delta Gov. Oborevwori in Aso Rock

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori visited President Bola Tinubu at the Aso...