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Senator Ireti Kingibe has disclosed that she never saw the committee report that formed the basis for the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Speaking during a television interview, Kingibe said she was attending a retreat on tax reforms at the time the report was being considered and therefore did not have the opportunity to review its contents before the Senate acted on it.
According to the FCT senator, she attended a meeting of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and signed the attendance register before leaving for the retreat, which she considered more important to her constituents. Kingibe explained that she expected other members of the committee to handle the matter and was surprised that she never received or reviewed the report that ultimately led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. She added that she complained to colleagues, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, about not having access to the document.
Her remarks have added a new dimension to the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, which has generated intense public debate and legal challenges since it was imposed. The issue gained further attention after Senator Adams Oshiomhole recently alleged that some signatures on the committee report may have been improperly included, suggesting that not all listed senators endorsed the recommendation.
However, the Senate has pushed back against claims of irregularities. Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu insisted that no senator had formally reported forged signatures or procedural breaches in connection with the report. Despite the differing accounts, Kingibe’s statement has reignited questions about the process that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and is likely to fuel continued scrutiny of the matter both within and outside the National Assembly.
