New Evidence Raises Questions on Due Process
The Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension controversy has taken a new turn as fresh allegations emerge. Reports suggest the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions may have misrepresented senators’ signatures, implying unanimous support for her suspension.
Reports from Premium Times indicate that the signatures included in the committee’s report were merely attendance records rather than endorsements of the six-month suspension. This revelation has sparked internal backlash, with some senators distancing themselves from the decision, claiming they never reviewed the final report before it was presented.
Senators Challenge Legitimacy of Report
A heated closed-door meeting revealed dissent within the Senate. Some lawmakers claimed their signatures were misused to justify the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension. A North-Central senator, speaking anonymously, stated that proper legislative protocols were ignored.
“We should have reviewed and approved the final draft before presentation. Instead, our signatures were used without consent to suggest full endorsement.”
The dispute highlights the difference between attendance and endorsement, raising concerns about due process in the Nigerian Senate.
The Suspension and Its Penalties
On March 6, the Senate enforced a six-month suspension on Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing misconduct and disregard for chamber rules. The penalties include:
✅ Loss of security aides
✅ Closure of her National Assembly office
✅ Forfeiture of salary and allowances
✅ Ban from entering the National Assembly premises
✅ Prohibition from identifying as a senator both locally and internationally
The Senate, however, left a potential path for reinstatement. If she submits a written apology, the leadership may reconsider her suspension.
International Scrutiny & Sexual Harassment Allegations
The Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension controversy gained international attention after she took her case to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). During a session at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, she claimed her suspension aimed to silence her for exposing sexual harassment in the Senate. Senate President Godswill Akpabio faces allegations at the center of the controversy.
Her claims have triggered protests from civil society organizations (CSOs), women’s rights groups, and concerned citizens. These groups demand an independent investigation into her suspension and the harassment allegations.
Senators Push Back on Signature Misuse
The backlash over the alleged manipulation of signatures has intensified. Some lawmakers—two from the North-West, one from the North-East, and another from the North-Central—argued that their signatures were misused since they never endorsed the suspension.
“Signing an attendance register does not mean endorsing a resolution,” said one dissenting senator. “The report should have been shared for review before its presentation.”
Despite their objections, none of the dissenting senators have spoken publicly. Efforts to obtain a comment from Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Neda Imasuen have remained unsuccessful.
Political Fallout & Questions of Due Process
The internal division within the Senate, combined with growing public and international scrutiny, raises key questions: 🔹 Was Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension a fair disciplinary action or politically motivated?
🔹 Did the Senate manipulate procedures to justify the suspension?
🔹 Will the international spotlight force a review of this decision?
With pressure mounting both domestically and internationally, the Senate may soon face a difficult situation. If procedural violations are proven, the suspension could backfire politically, further strengthening demands for greater transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s legislative process.