The lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the Senate, Ireti Kingibe, says she did not see any report that led to the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Kingibe made this disclosure on Wednesday night, June 17 when she featured in an interview on Arise Television. She noted that she was away at a tax reform retreat when the committee finalized the report.
“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. 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.
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 said.
The FCT lawmaker maintained that she could not have endorsed the committee’s findings or recommendations because the document was never presented to her.
“I even complained to other Senators, specifically to 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,” she added.
Kingibe’s comments follow a brewing controversy within the upper legislative chamber after Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, alleged during a separate television appearance that the attendance signatures of some committee members, including Kingibe’s, were improperly attached to the final report to imply an endorsement they did not give.
The Senate leadership, through its spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, has since dismissed claims of signature manipulation or procedural flaws, maintaining that the suspension process was conducted transparently and in full compliance with Senate rules.