Tensions flared during Tuesday’s hearing of a sexual harassment petition filed by Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Petitions clashed with former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili.
The heated exchange unfolded as the senators argued with Ezekwesili while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offered temporary relief to Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that the petitioners had failed to comply with recall guidelines.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had been suspended by the Senate on March 6 following a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a seating arrangement she claimed was designed to undermine her. The situation escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances. The Senate suspended her for six months and ordered the withdrawal of her security aides.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Petitions, which held a hearing on Tuesday. The proceeding quickly turned contentious when Kogi Central petitioner Suberu Yakubu, along with his legal counsel Abiola Akinyode and Ezekwesili—who appeared as a witness—accused the committee of bias and unfair treatment of the case.
The situation reached a boiling point when Yakubu called for the resignation of Committee Chairman Senator Neda Imasuen, questioning his impartiality. “How can the chairman serve as a judge when he has already publicly taken a position?” Yakubu asked, alleging that some committee members had ties to Akpabio, which compromised their neutrality.
In response, the committee members admonished Yakubu for undermining the integrity of the panel and chastised Ezekwesili for attempting to “force herself into the narrative” under the guise of being a witness.
Ezekwesili, undeterred, demanded to be heard and requested to testify under oath. But her plea was met with resistance and shouts from the lawmakers. As tensions escalated, a heated exchange between Ezekwesili and Senator Peter Nwebonyi ensued, with the two engaging in a shouting match that further fueled the discord.
Senator Patrick Ndubueze intervened, urging calm. “We should stop behaving like people in the marketplace. This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said, expressing disappointment that the petitioner lacked confidence in the Senate’s ability to handle the case impartially.
After the exchange, Imasuen adjourned the hearing indefinitely, citing ongoing court cases involving both Akpabio’s wife and Akpoti-Uduaghan, as well as the absence of the suspended lawmaker to defend her allegations.
Following the hearing, Ezekwesili condemned the Senate’s actions, accusing the committee of violating the Nigerian Constitution and legal framework. She criticized the panel’s focus on Senate rules over constitutional rights, particularly in disciplinary matters. “The Senate continues to prioritize its own rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution,” she declared, urging for an independent review of the case to ensure fairness.
Meanwhile, INEC raised concerns about the petition for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall, citing the petitioners’ failure to comply with the necessary guidelines. The petition, which was reportedly signed by around 250,000 constituents, was deemed incomplete by INEC due to missing contact details and vague addresses.
INEC emphasized that the recall process could not proceed until the petition met the required legal standards, specifically the submission of proper contact information. The commission also stated it was exploring alternative ways to notify the petitioners.
The PDP, in response to the recall plot, accused Senate President Akpabio of orchestrating the recall effort, with PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor calling for Akpabio’s resignation. “Instead of victimizing Natasha, Akpabio should step aside and allow for a thorough investigation,” Osadolor stated, further accusing Akpabio of wasting resources on the recall campaign.
Additionally, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court recused himself from a case filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan to prevent the Senate from investigating her. The judge cited allegations of bias, particularly from Senate President Akpabio, as the reason for his withdrawal from the case.
As the situation continues to unfold, the political storm surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio is far from over, with both legal and political implications looming large.
