The police have arrested Ovie Omo-Agege, suspended Delta State senator, for allegedly leading armed thugs into the senate chambers to steal the mace, the Senate’s symbol of authority.

Omo-Agege was arrested Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the uproar caused by the whisking away of the mace. He was taken away in a black Toyota Hilux vehicle, while the Senate continued its plenary with a ‘spare’ mace.

Sabi Abdullahi, spokesperson of the senate, had declared Wednesday’s incident “an act of treason”, and “an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force”.

“This action is also an affront on the legislature, and the leadership of the House has come to express their support against this action,” Abdullahi’s statement read.

“All security agencies must stand on the side of due process and immediately mobilise their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the mastermind and the perpetrators of this act.”

Omo-Agege was suspended for 90 legislative-days for claiming that the Electoral Act amendment by the Senate was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ordinarily, a suspended lawmaker cannot gain entry into the senate chambers, raising questions as to how Omo-Agege managed to enter the chambers with thugs and successfully moved the mace.

Wednesday’s plenary was presided over by Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President, as Bukola Saraki is currently in Washington DC attending the spring meeting by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).