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From Visitor Osula, Abuja
Fresh pressure is mounting on the Nigerian Senate after Senator Ireti Kingibe revealed she had never seen the committee report that formed the basis for the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, raising new concerns about transparency and procedural integrity within the upper legislative chamber.
Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Nigerian Senate, made the revelation on Wednesday during an appearance on Arise Television Prime Time, where he disclosed that he did not have access to the report before the Senate proceeded with disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
His revelation adds another layer of controversy to a suspension that has remained one of the most hotly debated decisions of the 10th Senate, with critics repeatedly questioning whether due process was followed before the Kogi Central lawmaker was granted a six-month suspension.
According to Kingibe, she was attending a retreat on tax reform when the commission’s report was being reviewed and therefore did not have a chance to review the document before the matter was concluded.
“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat. I had said before that I was there with three or four other senators who were members of the commission,” he said.
Explaining the circumstances, the senator said she initially attended a session of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, signed the attendance register and later left to attend a separate retreat focused on tax reforms, which she believes are most important to the people she represents.
“We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and then I left for the retreat on tax reform, which I considered more important at the time. It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I thought other people who weren’t on that committee would take care of it,” she said.
Kingibe further revealed that after the proceedings, she complained to some of her colleagues about not having access to the report, specifically mentioning Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
“I also complained to other senators, especially Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. I complained very bitterly to him that I did not see that report. I did not see it then. I did not see it until now,” she added.
His comments come days after Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, sparked controversy after suggesting during a television interview that the names of some lawmakers had been improperly included in the report recommending Natasha’s suspension.
The allegation immediately generated a stir within the Senate and prompted the Senate Speaker, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, to announce that the Senate would review Oshiomhole’s remarks and determine his official position.
However, Oshiomhole later issued a clarification denying reports that he had accused senators of forging signatures, insisting that his comments had been misconstrued and that he had never claimed that any MP’s signature had been forged.
According to him, his original comments simply reflected concerns allegedly raised by a member of the committee regarding the presence signatures of some senators being attached to the final report.
The controversy over the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier resurfaced after Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele reportedly described the suspension of the Kogi Central Senator as one of the lowest moments in the history of the 10th Senate.
