Nwebonyi and Ezekwesili Clash Over Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Petition

Nwebonyi and Ezekwesili Clash Over Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Petition

Tensions ran high in the Senate on Tuesday as Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (APC – Ebonyi South) and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, clashed over the handling of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The altercation occurred during a hearing by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, which later dismissed the petition on the grounds that the matter was already in court.

The petition was filed by Zubairu Yakubu, a constituent of Akpoti-Uduaghan. Yakubu, accompanied by Ezekwesili, appeared before the committee, but proceedings took a dramatic turn when Senator Nwebonyi resorted to derogatory remarks.

During the session, Nwebonyi, visibly angered by Ezekwesili’s refusal to take an oath, lashed out at her, calling her “an insult to womanhood” and a “hooligan.”

“You are an insult to womanhood, hooligan. People like you are not supposed to be here, hooligan. You are an insult to womanhood!” Nwebonyi shouted as Senate staff scrambled to mute the microphones.

Social media erupted following the altercation, with many Nigerians condemning Nwebonyi’s conduct as unprofessional.

Speaking to journalists after the session was abruptly adjourned, Ezekwesili accused the Senate of bias and violating the Constitution.

“The Nigerian Senate keeps telling citizens they are subject to Senate rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution. This is unacceptable in a democracy,” she stated.

She further criticized the Senate for allegedly denying Akpoti-Uduaghan a fair hearing, warning that allowing Senate rules to override constitutional provisions could set a dangerous precedent.

“The Senate must respect the Constitution. Otherwise, we risk turning our democracy into a system where powerful individuals manipulate processes to silence opposition and suppress justice,” she warned.

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Petitioner Yakubu also expressed disappointment, arguing that Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been suspended for six months, was prevented from testifying and presenting crucial evidence.

“How can the chairman serve as a judge in a case where he has already publicly taken a position? What is the need for us to present our case when a verdict has already been given before hearing us?” he queried.

Legal counsel to the petitioner, Dr. Abiola Akinyode, faulted the inconsistencies in the Senate’s handling of the case, arguing that the committee should have dismissed the petition outright if it truly believed the matter was already in court.

“If they knew the case was in court, they should have simply written to the petitioner stating they could not entertain it. Instead, they invited him, only to dismiss the petition on the basis that it was already in court,” she said.

With the Senate Committee’s decision under scrutiny, calls for an independent review of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition continue to grow.