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Senate committee throws out Natasha’s petition

Published

11 months ago

March 26, 2025

Senate committee throws out Natasha’s petition

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions has dismissed a petition submitted on behalf of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing ongoing litigation on the matter.

The petition, written by Mr. Zubairu Yakubu, a constituent of Akpoti-Uduaghan, was brought before the committee for deliberation.

During the hearing, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (APC – Ebonyi South) and former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, clashed over the handling of sexual harassment allegations tied to the case.

Dr. Ezekwesili, who accompanied Yakubu as a witness, defended the petition, leading to a tense exchange with Senator Nwaebonyi.

A war of words ensued between Nwebonyi and the former minister, who complained about how the allegation was being handled by senators.

However, the Committee ruled that it could not sit on the petition, in view of a pending case filed against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan by Dr. Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate President.

Citing Senate Rules, Senator Imasuen noted that the practice of the Senate was to desist from entertaining petitions on any matters pending before the court.

During the proceedings, tension rose as Nwebonyi described Dr Ezekwesili an ‘insult to womanhood’ and a ‘hooligan.’

The senator’s remarks followed the refusal of Dr Ezekwesili and other attendees to take an oath during the hearing.

While one of the senators insisted that either they take the oath or the committee would end the meeting, Dr Ezekwesili and her colleagues insisted on not taking the oath, during which Nwebonyi became apparently angry.

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He said: “You are an insult to womanhood, hooligan. People like you are not supposed to be here, hooligan. You are an insult to womanhood.” Ezekwesili, who later spoke with reporters, accused the Senate of violating the Constitution, adding that the Senate Rule cited by the committee was not superior to the Constitution.

She said: “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 argued that the embattled Kogi Central lawmaker was denied fair hearing, insisting that it is in clear breach of provisions of the Constitution.

Dr Ezekwesili added: “The Senate placed its own rules above the laws of the land. Now, with this petitioner, they have done the same thing—using procedural loopholes to avoid addressing critical issues

“If a petitioner says they do not believe the Senate committee will give them a fair hearing due to clear bias, it is only just that an independent body reviews the matter.

“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 said.

On the alleged bias by the Senate, the petitioner cited previous remarks attributed to the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Imasuen, where he described Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition as dead on arrival during a previous Committee sitting.

“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.

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Yakubu expressed disappointment over the objection by the Committee to his request that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been suspended for six months by the Senate be allowed to testify before the panel as principal witness.

He said the suspended senator was in custody of a crucial documentary evidence to support her claims, lamenting that she had been barred from entering the National Assembly as part of her suspension.

Yakubu added: “In my petition, I clearly stated that my witness would present her evidence personally. But she was not allowed into the premises. If my key witness is denied access, how can I proceed with my case?”

Counsel to the petitioner, Dr. Abiola Akinyode also faulted the alleged inconsistencies in the Senate’s handling of the petitions.

She said: “There is nothing in Yakubu’s petition that was not in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s original petition. If the Senate dismissed her petition as ‘dead on arrival,’ then logically, Yakubu’s should also be dismissed.”

“The Senate seems to be operating under its own rules, separate from the Constitution. That is why they can suspend a senator for six months without following due process,” Akinyode said.

She also faulted the defence by the Committee that it could not hear a petition on a subsisting case before a court of competent jurisdiction.

Akinyode said: “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.”

Senate committee throws out Natasha’s petition

(Nation)

Related Topics:Featured Natasha petition Senate committee

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El-Rufai to Appear Before EFCC After Alleged Airport Arrest Attempt

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February 12, 2026

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Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai

El-Rufai to Appear Before EFCC After Alleged Airport Arrest Attempt

Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, is scheduled to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026, following what his legal team described as an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Esop Akpan, disclosed this while reacting to Thursday’s incident involving security operatives. According to him, the former governor was approached shortly after arriving in Abuja aboard Egypt Air flight MS 877 from Cairo, where he had reportedly travelled for medical treatment and rest.

Akpan described the development as a “flagrant violation of constitutional rights, executive overreach, and deliberate disregard for the rule of law.” He explained that the EFCC invitation was delivered to El-Rufai’s residence while he was already outside Nigeria, making immediate compliance “illogical and impractical.” According to the lawyer, it was unreasonable to expect instantaneous attendance from someone who was abroad at the time the invitation was issued.

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The legal team said it had formally communicated with the EFCC since December 2025, assuring the Commission that El-Rufai would comply upon his return. He added that the EFCC was explicitly notified that the former governor would voluntarily appear at the Commission’s office by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, specifying both the date and time. Resorting to an attempted arrest despite that commitment, he argued, amounted to arbitrary conduct and procedural abuse.

Akpan further alleged that El-Rufai’s passport was seized during the encounter and demanded its immediate return, along with a formal apology. He maintained that there was no lawful basis for the attempted arrest or what he termed mistreatment, stressing that El-Rufai had publicly affirmed his willingness to face any legitimate investigation.

As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC has not issued an official statement regarding the airport incident or the exact nature of the allegations under investigation. However, sources indicate that the former governor’s invitation may be linked to ongoing investigations into alleged financial transactions and administrative decisions during his tenure in Kaduna State.

The development has generated significant political interest, given El-Rufai’s influence in national politics and his outspoken role in governance debates. His scheduled appearance before the anti-corruption agency on Monday is expected to shed more light on the allegations and determine the next steps in the matter.

El-Rufai to Appear Before EFCC After Alleged Airport Arrest Attempt

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Four Sentenced to Death for Murder of Ahoada DPO in Rivers

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4 hours ago

February 12, 2026

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Four Sentenced to Death for Murder of Ahoada DPO in Rivers

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced four individuals to death by hanging for their involvement in the brutal killing of Superintendent of Police (SP) Bako Amgbashim, the former Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada East Division. The verdict, delivered on Thursday, February 12, 2026, marks a major milestone in a high-profile case that captured national attention nearly three years ago.

Justice Sika Aprioku, presiding over the case, found Robinson Sonabari, a native doctor; Bright Okparawo; Precious Amaeze, popularly known as “Selina”; and Loveday Jack, also called “Ragged Excess,” guilty of conspiracy, murder, membership of a secret cult group, and robbery. The judge ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and ordered that the four convicts be executed by hanging, the maximum penalty under Nigerian law.

Additionally, Samuel Nwadinma, the sixth defendant, was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. One defendant was discharged and acquitted due to insufficient evidence, while five others — previously found guilty of cult group membership — were freed after the court noted they had already served the statutory term while in custody.

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The case arose from the murder of SP Bako Amgbashim on September 8, 2023, during a police operation in Odemude community, Ahoada East Local Government Area. The officer was ambushed and killed by suspected cultists, and his body was reportedly mutilated, sparking widespread outrage and prompting intensified security operations in the area.

During the trial, it emerged that Robinson Sonabari played a key role, allegedly preparing the charm used to execute the attack on the late DPO. Prosecutors presented eyewitness testimony, forensic evidence, and confessions, while the defense failed to disprove the charges, leading to the death sentences.

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, lead prosecution counsel Chigozie Amadi of the Rivers State Ministry of Justice described the judgment as a triumph of justice. He was joined by Celestine Dickson, representing the Nigeria Police, who condemned the rising attacks on law enforcement officers and stressed that the ruling would serve as a deterrent to criminal elements targeting security personnel.

Akasco Amgbashim, elder brother of the slain officer, expressed relief at the verdict, thanking the judiciary, the state government, and the police for pursuing justice. He emphasized that the ruling should remind all that no one has the right to unlawfully take another person’s life.

The four condemned convicts were among 72 individuals originally arraigned before the court by a joint prosecution team from the Department of Public Prosecutions and the Rivers State Police Command. During the trial, 61 defendants, including traditional ruler Eze Kelvin Anugwo and former Ahoada East Council Chairman Cassidy Ikegbidi, were discharged and acquitted due to lack of evidence, leaving 13 to face final judgment.

Thursday’s verdict brings closure to a case that began with the tragic murder of SP Amgbashim, reinforced by joint security operations that later led to the killing of a suspected cult leader, David Okparanwo (“2Baba”), believed to have orchestrated the attack. The judgment is seen as a strong statement that violent crimes against law enforcement officers will not go unpunished.

Four Sentenced to Death for Murder of Ahoada DPO in Rivers

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Nigerian Army Rescues Eight Kidnapped Wedding Guests in Kano

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4 hours ago

February 12, 2026

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Nigerian Army Rescues Eight Kidnapped Wedding Guests in Kano

Nigerian Army troops have successfully rescued eight of the ten people abducted during a wedding ceremony in Dabawa, Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, security sources confirmed on Thursday, February 12, 2026. The operation highlights the military’s ongoing efforts to combat banditry and kidnappings in northern Nigeria.

According to a credible Army Headquarters source, a group of gunmen dressed in military camouflage stormed the wedding on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, and forcibly abducted several guests. The assailants reportedly fled toward neighboring Katsina State after the attack.

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Troops stationed at an ambush position along the Yankwada River line responded immediately after receiving a distress call, pursuing the kidnappers to Garu Village in Katsina. Contact with the fleeing gunmen was later lost along the Katsina–Gidan Mutum Daya road axis, but the operation led to the safe rescue of eight victims, who have now been reunited with their families.

Military authorities confirmed that efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining two victims still in captivity. Operations in the area continue to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of local communities.

The rescue operation forms part of a broader counter-kidnapping strategy by the Nigerian military in Kano and neighboring states, aimed at protecting civilians and deterring banditry. Analysts say the swift response demonstrates the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations in combating organized kidnapping networks in northern Nigeria.

Residents have expressed relief and gratitude to the troops, urging continued vigilance and enhanced security measures at public events to prevent similar incidents in the future.