By: Daure David
A deepening controversy has engulfed the Nigerian Senate following the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as multiple senators have denied endorsing the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions’ report that led to her sanction.
The issue revolves around discrepancies over the signatures attached to the ethics committee’s report, which some senators claim were misrepresented as an endorsement of the suspension. This confusion came to light during a closed-door Senate meeting, where senators expressed frustration over what they described as the misuse of their signatures, which they say were meant only for attendance at the meeting—not for supporting the report’s recommendations.
On March 5, members of the Senate Committee on Ethics met to investigate a dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio regarding seating arrangements. Senators attending the meeting were required to sign an attendance register, while others abstained. It is important to note that Senate rules permit any senator, regardless of their committee membership, to attend such meetings and sign the register.
However, when the report was presented the following day, March 6, Committee Chairman Neda Imasuen included the attendance sheet signatures in the final document, creating the impression that all signatories had endorsed the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan. The report’s recommendation included a six-month suspension and a series of penalties, such as the withdrawal of security aides, the closure of her office at the National Assembly, and a ban on her identifying herself as a senator, both nationally and internationally.
Some senators who had signed the attendance sheet have now distanced themselves from the report, claiming they had no opportunity to review the final draft before it was presented on the Senate floor. One senator, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concerns that the proper process had not been followed. “The report should have been circulated and reviewed by committee members before it was presented publicly,” the senator said. “Instead, we saw it only when it was read out in the Senate.”
In response, a vote was taken on March 6, resulting in the Senate approving the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months. The Senate also imposed several penalties, including the suspension of her salary and allowances and the prohibition of her from entering the National Assembly premises during her suspension. However, the Senate provided a potential path to reinstatement: Akpoti-Uduaghan could be reinstated if she submits a satisfactory written apology within the suspension period.
Amid the growing tensions, Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken her case to the international stage, seeking intervention from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Speaking at an IPU meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, she described her suspension as unlawful and accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment, claiming the suspension was an attempt to silence her for speaking out against alleged misconduct in the Senate.
The controversy over the suspension has only intensified with objections from several senators, particularly from the North-West, North-East, and North-Central zones, who have raised concerns about the misuse of their signatures. They argue that signing an attendance register should not be construed as supporting a resolution. The senators contend that they were never given the chance to review the report before it was presented and, therefore, should not be held accountable for its contents.
In defense, some senators have argued that attendance at a committee meeting implies participation in the decisions made during that session, and thus no further signature is needed for endorsement. This disagreement has further fueled concerns about the integrity and due process behind the suspension.
Efforts to reach Committee Chairman Neda Imasuen for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or text messages. Similarly, attempts to contact Senators Daura, Katung, and Kingibe for their comments went unanswered.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan remains a divisive issue, raising questions about transparency, due process, and accountability within the Nigerian Senate.
