By Desmond Ogbonmwan
The controversy surrounding the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken a fresh turn after the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, disclosed that she never saw the committee report that formed the basis for the disciplinary action.
Kingibe made the revelation during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, June 17, where she addressed ongoing questions about the Senate Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee report that eventually recommended Natasha’s six-month suspension.
According to the lawmaker, although she attended part of the committee proceedings and signed the attendance register, she was not present when the final report was prepared and did not have access to the document before it was presented.
“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension,” Kingibe said during the interview.
She explained that she attended the committee session alongside several other senators before leaving for a tax reform retreat, which she considered a more urgent assignment due to its potential impact on residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
“I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee. We attended the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, signed the attendance register, and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time,” she stated.
According to Kingibe, she believed other members of the committee would conclude the assignment in her absence.
“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I figured that the other people who were part of that committee would take care of it,” she added.
The FCT senator further maintained that she could not have endorsed the findings or recommendations contained in the report because she never received or reviewed the document.
“I even complained to other senators, specifically Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. I complained to him very bitterly that I had not seen that report. I didn’t see it then. I have not seen it till now,” Kingibe said.
Her comments come amid growing debate over the process that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension in March 2025.
The controversy intensified after former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, recently alleged that the names of some committee members were attached to the report despite them not signing or endorsing it.
Oshiomhole specifically referenced Kingibe while raising concerns about whether attendance records may have been used to create the impression that certain lawmakers supported the committee’s conclusions.
The allegation prompted reactions from the Senate leadership, which strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu dismissed claims of forged signatures or procedural irregularities, insisting that the suspension process was transparent and carried out in accordance with Senate rules and procedures.
According to Adaramodu, no senator has officially reported that his or her signature was forged or improperly used in connection with the Natasha suspension report.
Despite those assurances, Kingibe’s latest remarks are likely to fuel further scrutiny of the process, particularly among critics who have questioned the circumstances surrounding the suspension.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate for six months following allegations of misconduct and disputes involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The decision generated widespread debate across Nigeria and attracted reactions from civil society groups, political observers and legal analysts.
With Kingibe now stating publicly that she never saw the report that led to the suspension, the controversy appears far from over and could continue to generate political and legal discussions in the coming weeks.
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