Fresh Twist In Senate Crisis As Kingibe Speaks On Her Role In Natasha’s Suspension

The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has denied endorsing the committee report that recommended the suspension of Kogi Central lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

She made the clarification during an interview on Arise Television, insisting that she neither saw nor reviewed the report before it was submitted for consideration.

According to her, she attended a session of the Senate Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints briefly before leaving for a tax reform retreat.

She said, “I did tell everybody that I was not there. I wasn’t there. I was in the retreat with him. He came to meet me there, and when I heard about the report, I said, ‘But we were here.’

“We went, myself and three or four other senators that were on that committee, we went to the committee of petitions, public complaints and petitions, and we signed attendance. And I left to go to the tax reform retreat because that, I felt, was much more important. It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator. And I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it.”

Kingibe acknowledged that a copy of her signature appeared on the document but maintained that she did not sign or approve the final report. She also said she had raised concerns with Senate leadership over not being shown the document.

“I even complained to other senators, specifically Senator Barau. I complained to him very bitterly that I have not seen that report. I didn’t see it then, I have not seen it till now. But I did not say anybody forged my signature.

“I couldn’t have endorsed the committee report, I didn’t see it,” she added.

She further questioned Senate procedures, arguing that lawmakers should be allowed to properly review reports before appending their signatures.

“The truth of the matter is there are many things I feel should not be the way they are. Number one, I feel we should be given reports to read when they are ready, and then we sign them. Not that reports are written and then we’re just given to sign.

“It is unlikely that I signed without being aware of what I was signing. We’re supposed to read the report before signing it. A photocopy of my signature is on it,” she said.