Kofoworola Odozi
The suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has sparked fresh controversy, as allegations emerge that signatures used in the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions’ report were not for endorsing the suspension but were merely attendance records.
Attendance or Endorsement?
On March 5, the Senate Committee on Ethics convened to investigate a dispute between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat arrangements. During the session, attending senators signed an attendance register, which is standard practice. However, controversy arose when the committee’s report, presented the next day, included these signatures, creating the impression of unanimous endorsement of the suspension.
Some senators who signed the attendance register have since distanced themselves from the report, claiming they were not given the opportunity to review the final draft before it was presented on the Senate floor. A senator who attended the meeting but requested anonymity told Premium Times that the report should have been examined and approved by the committee members before its presentation.
The Suspension Decision
On March 6, the Senate voted to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months based on the ethics committee’s recommendations. The report accused her of misconduct during a plenary session on February 20 and non-compliance with the chamber’s sitting arrangements.
The penalties imposed include:
- Withdrawal of her security aides
- Closure of her office at the National Assembly
- Handing over of all Senate properties in her possession to the Clerk of the National Assembly
- Prohibition from entering the National Assembly premises during the suspension
- Suspension of her salary and allowances
- Ban on representing herself as a senator locally and internationally
The Senate, however, left a possibility for an early reversal of the suspension if Akpoti-Uduaghan submits a written apology.
International Appeal and Allegations Against Akpabio
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken her case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), seeking international intervention. During an IPU meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, she described her suspension as unlawful and an attempt to silence her. She also raised allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Senators Push Back Against Signature Use
Sources confirm that some members of the ethics committee objected to the use of their signatures in the report during a closed-door meeting. Among them were senators from the North-west, North-east, and North-central zones, who argued that signing an attendance register does not equate to endorsing a resolution. They emphasized that the report should have been reviewed by all committee members before presentation.
Despite these objections, no senator has publicly challenged the report, and efforts by Premium Times to reach them for comment were unsuccessful.
Debate Over Committee Procedures
At the closed-door meeting, opposing views emerged. Some senators argued that attending a meeting implies acceptance of its decisions. They contended that once a committee reaches a decision, additional signatures are unnecessary.
This controversy raises concerns about due process in the Senate and whether the suspension was executed fairly. Committee Chairman Neda Imasuen has not responded to inquiries regarding the use of signatures.
The unfolding dispute continues to fuel debate over legislative procedures and political maneuvering within the Nigerian Senate.
