Senate, Oshiomhole at daggers’ drawn over Natasha’s 6 month’s suspension

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*3 senators’ names improperly included in Natasha’s suspension report— Oshiomhole

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*No signature was forged, Senate replies Oshiomhole

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By John Alechenu

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ABUJA — The Senate and one of its members, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, were at daggers’ drawn, yesterday, over committee report, which recommended suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months.

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While Oshiomhole alleged that the names of at least three senators were improperly included on the Senate Committee report that recommended the suspension of the Kogi Central senator, the Senate said no signature was forged in the suspension report.

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The Edo North senator made the claim yesterday during an interview on Africa Independent Television, AIT, while reacting to Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele’s description of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension as one of the “lowest moments” of the 10th Senate.

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According to Oshiomhole, several lawmakers whose names appeared on the report told him they neither signed the document nor endorsed its recommendations.

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He cited Senator Ireti Kingibe, FCT, as one of the senators, who reportedly questioned the inclusion of her name.

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He said: “The committee does a hearing; members are expected to sign the report to endorse it. If you don’t agree, you can abstain. But some said they didn’t sign, yet their names were published.

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“People like Senator Ireti Kingibe. She told me, But I didn’t sign that report. But my name was published.’’

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The former Edo governor expressed concern over what he described as a breach of parliamentary procedure, suggesting that attendance registers might have been attached in place of actual endorsements.

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He said: “So, where many don’t accept the content, they could abstain from signing it because to sign is to endorse. One, two or three senators said ‘we didn’t sign, but our names were there.’

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“But how? Some say maybe they attached an attendance register, which is not the appropriate thing. But that’s not my problem. If Opeyemi said so, I think you should take it seriously.”

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Oshiomhole’s comments come amid renewed debate over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension by the Senate in March 2025 over allegations of gross misconduct and unruly behaviour.

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No signature was forged in Natasha Akpoti’s suspension—Senate

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Replying the Edo North senator yesterday, Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, said the upper legislative chamber would review his recent comments on the suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

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Adaramodu also dismissed Oshiomhole’s claim that some senators’ signatures were forged or improperly included in the report that recommended Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.

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“That is not true. Signatures forged, over what?” he queried.

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Adaramodu said no senator had raised such concerns before the Senate, saying: “if Senator Kingibe had anything against any procedure, she would report it on the floor of the Senate, not to an individual.

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“But it is not even true, because I was part of the ethics and public petitions committee that listened to the matter.

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“Nobody will say that he or she was coerced or somebody’s signature was forged. That has never happened in the Senate and it cannot happen. It has never happened.”

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Asked whether the Senate would sanction Oshiomhole over the allegations, Adaramodu said the chamber would first examine the remarks.

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“We are going to review any statements made by him. The senate will take a cursory look at either extraneous, spontaneous or intentional comments from any senator appropriately.

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“We are going to look into it. We will take a stand and everyone will know where we stand. But we can say no senator has reported that his or her senator was forged during the Natasha matter.

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“It was debated on the floor of the senate openly at the plenary in the full glare of every Nigerian and even the international audience, and so nothing to hide.

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“All Nigerians knew where we stood then on the issue of Natasha… that she ran foul of the senate’s orders. And we are orderly because we are bounded by orders of the Senate,’’ he said.

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