Drama In Senate As Senators Distance Themselves From Ethics Committee Report

This revelation reportedly sparked confusion during a closed-door Senate session, as several lawmakers claimed their signatures were misrepresented to imply unanimous approval of the decision.

On March 5, the Senate Ethics Committee convened to investigate Akpoti-Uduaghan’s dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements. While some senators signed the attendance register, others refrained. Senate rules permit any senator, regardless of committee membership, to attend such meetings and sign the register.

However, when the committee’s chairman, Neda Imasuen, presented the report on March 6, the signatures from the attendance sheet were included, creating the impression that all signatories supported the suspension.

A key recommendation in the report barred Akpoti-Uduaghan from identifying herself as a senator at any level during her six-month suspension.

Some lawmakers who signed the attendance register have since distanced themselves from the report, claiming they were not given an opportunity to review its final draft before it was submitted.

One senator, speaking anonymously to Premium Times, argued that proper procedure was not followed, as committee members should have reviewed and approved the report before its presentation. Instead, they only saw it for the first time when it was publicly read on the Senate floor.

On March 6, the Senate voted to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, citing the ethics committee’s findings that she engaged in misconduct during a February 20 plenary session and refused to comply with seating arrangements.

Sanctions and Conditions for Reinstatement

The Senate imposed several penalties on Akpoti-Uduaghan, including:

• The withdrawal of all her security aides.
• The closure of her office at the National Assembly.
• A directive to return all Senate property in her possession.
• A ban from entering the National Assembly premises during her suspension.
• The suspension of her salary and allowances.
• A prohibition from identifying herself as a senator at any level, both locally and internationally.