The Senate has mandated its committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to investigate Friday’s invasion of a federal high court and rearrest of the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).

This comes almost a week after the incident.

Nigerians have criticised the lawmakers for failing to react and address the issue.

The chairman of the Senate committee on Judiciary and Human Rights and Legal Matters, Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), raised the matter during plenary on Thursday.

He came under Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rule.

Order 43 allows for a lawmaker to raise and issue but prohibits other lawmakers from making contributions or debating the said issue.

He said the “alleged” invasion of the courtroom by “alleged DSS officials”, has raised a lot of concerns in different quarters in Nigeria.

“The leaders and members of the judiciary are particularly concerned about this happening because they believe that the courtroom is meant to be a sanctuary. But for us as a Senate, we cannot begin to take a position or analyse issues based on conclusions without facts.

“Yet, much as we cannot just jump into conclusions, we cannot pretend not to know that Nigerians are concerned about this development,” he said.

Mr Bamidele said he came under Order 43 so as not to “generate any controversy or make the Senate to begin to debate an issue that we need fact and evidence about.”

He prayed that as elected representatives of the people, the Senate mandates its committee on National Security and Intelligence to interface with the relevant security agencies and investigate the matter and report back to this Senate.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, simply said the matter be investigated by the Judiciary committee.

The committee is expected to report back after a week.

Already, the House of Representatives has mandated its relevant committees to investigate the actions of the SSS.

Mr Sowore was arrested alongside another activist, Olawale Bakare, on August 3 for planning a protest to call for good governance.

They were charged with treasonable felony, fraud and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.

The court granted the duo bail twice but the SSS refused to release them until Thursday night.

However, less than 24 hours later, the SSS rearrested them within the federal high court in Abuja, sparking national outrage.

In a bid to justify the action of the SSS, the presidency said Mr Sowore’s call for revolution was aimed at overthrowing the democratically elected of Nigeria.

Many Nigerians and organisations have condemned the act and called for the sack of the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Bichi, over the illegal detention of Omoyele Sowore, and Friday’s invasion of a federal court.

The Nigerian Bar Association also called for the suspension of Mr Bichi.

Blue3k2:
These Senate needs to investigate if Buhari had anything to do with order. If he did I assume thst would be grounds for impeachment. Nigerians shouldnt be excited over pointless gestures like punch referring to Buhari as major general. It doesn't matter at the end of day.

Mrpsly247:
Do these senators understand the basis of separation of power

SarkinYarki:


For real? You are still in doubt if Buhari had anything to do with the order even after the tone of the response of the presidency? God please who did this thing to Nigerians please who?

SarkinYarki:
You mean Major General Buharis rubber stamp Senate ? Those ones? Don't waste your time please people

helinues:


The rubber stamp senators including representatives from SE?

SarkinYarki:


They are all the same

Blue3k2:


It's within their right to investigate the executive branch. Why do you think these committees exist for?
They make laws not investigate abuses to those laws... If there has been a working system what we would have had was an immediate suspension of the DSS boss and his tools that desecrated our judicial temple pending the findings of the supreme court

I dont understand why you're asking dumb questions. It doesn't matter what we think or believe. It matter what can be proven. That's why the nass needs to do investigate and subpoena any records proving these assumptions.

Mrpsly247:

They make laws not investigate abuses to those laws... If there has been a working system what we would have had was an immediate suspension of the DSS boss and his tools that desecrated our judicial temple pending the findings of the supreme court

Blue3k2:


The senate has the responsibility to investigate the executive branch as part of it oversight responsibility. NASS doesn't have the power to impeach federal officials without the presidents permission.

SarkinYarki:
You mean Major General Buharis rubber stamp Senate ? Those ones? Don't waste your time please people

Mrpsly247:

Then I can say we are F*vked...

Eteka1:
What do you have against Major Generals?

SarkinYarki:


Nothing infact I love them

Blue3k2:


Lol if you believe that there's no need to whine. The answer is simple amend the constitution to allow for impeachment of federal officials without the presidents approval. The other one is impeachment assuming there's enough evidence.

Mrpsly247:

Which do u think is possible in this Nigeria case

Article II, Section 4 provides:

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Blue3k2:
These Senate needs to investigate if Buhari had anything to do with order. If he did I assume thst would be grounds for impeachment. Nigerians shouldnt be excited over pointless gestures like punch referring to Buhari as major general. It doesn't matter at the end of day.