The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has sparked a major controversy in the Nigerian Senate, with several senators distancing themselves from the Ethics Committee report that led to her suspension.
The dispute stems from claims that signatures attached to the report were merely for attendance purposes, not an endorsement of the suspension, raising questions about the legitimacy of the process.
Confusion Over Senate Ethics Committee Report
The controversy began on March 5, 2025, when the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions convened to investigate the dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements.
During the meeting, some senators signed the attendance register, while others chose not to participate.
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However, when the committee chairman, Neda Imasuen, presented the report to the Senate on March 6, it was discovered that the attendance signatures were included, creating the impression that all signatories had endorsed the suspension.
This led to confusion during a closed-door Senate meeting, with some senators accusing the leadership of misrepresenting their signatures.
Senators Deny Supporting Suspension
Several senators who attended the committee meeting have denied endorsing the report, arguing that they were not allowed to review the final document before it was presented.
A senator, speaking anonymously to Premium Times, criticized the process, stating:
“The correct procedure should have involved committee members reviewing and approving the report before it was presented. Instead, we only saw it when it was publicly read on the Senate floor.”
According to sources, at least four senators from different regions of the country have raised objections to the alleged misuse of their signatures.
Their argument is based on the principle that signing an attendance register does not equate to supporting a resolution, and that due process was not followed.
However, other senators maintain that attendance at a session implies participation in decisions made during that meeting, suggesting that the controversy is a result of internal divisions.
Sanctions Imposed on Akpoti-Uduaghan
Following the committee’s recommendations, the Senate voted on March 6 to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months.
As part of the suspension, she was subjected to the following penalties:
- Withdrawal of all security aides
- Closure of her office at the National Assembly
- Handing over of all Senate property in her possession to the Clerk of the National Assembly
- Ban from entering the National Assembly premises during her suspension
- Suspension of her salary and allowances
- Prohibition from identifying herself as a senator at both local and international levels
However, the Senate offered a path for reinstatement, stating that she could return earlier if she submitted a written apology that the Senate leadership deemed satisfactory.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Takes Case to International Body
Determined to challenge her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken her case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), seeking international intervention.
Speaking at an IPU meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, she:
- Described her suspension as unlawful
- Accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment
- Argued that she was being silenced for speaking out against misconduct in the Senate
Her move to seek global attention has further escalated tensions within the Nigerian Senate.
Senate Leadership Under Fire
Sources within the Senate reveal that the controversy escalated further during a closed-door session on Wednesday, which lasted two hours.
At least four senators openly questioned the process, stating that:
- The Ethics Committee report should have been reviewed before submission.
- The signatures were wrongly attached to the document.
- The Senate did not follow due process in passing the suspension.
Despite these objections, some senators defended the process, arguing that once a committee reaches a decision, further signatures are not necessary.
Efforts to reach Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Neda Imasuen for clarification were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages.
Similarly, other key senators, including Daura, Katung, and Kingibe, remained unreachable amid the controversy.
A Divided Senate
The controversy over Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has exposed deep divisions within the Senate, raising serious questions about due process, transparency, and political power struggles.
The fallout from this dispute is far from over, with some senators rejecting the report, and Akpoti-Uduaghan seeking international support.
