The senator for Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has claimed that at least three senators had their signatures forged or wrongly added to the report that recommended a six-month suspension for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Oshiomhole made this claim on Monday during an interview on Africa Independent Television. He was reacting to comments from the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who said that suspending Akpoti-Uduaghan was one of the lowest points in the 10th Senate.
The former governor of Edo State said several lawmakers whose names were on the report told him privately that they never signed the document or supported its recommendations.
One senator who raised issues about the report was Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory. Oshiomhole quoted her as saying, ‘But I didn’t sign that report. But my name was published.’
He argued that putting names on a report without consent is against parliamentary rules. He emphasized that committee members should only sign reports when they agree with them.
“If many do not accept the content, they can choose not to sign since signing means you agree with it. One, two or three senators said, ‘We didn’t sign, but our names were there,’” he explained.
He added, “But how? Some say maybe they attached an attendance register, which is not the right way. But that’s not my issue. If Opeyemi said so, I think you should take it seriously.”
This allegation comes as the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan is under renewed scrutiny. The senator from Kogi Central faced her suspension in March 2025 after being found guilty of gross misconduct and unruly behavior.
The Senate reached this decision after a report was submitted by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension followed a highly publicized clash with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she has accused of harassment and other misconduct.
However, the Senate said the suspension was based on her behavior during proceedings, not her accusations against Akpabio. The six-month suspension meant she lost her salary and allowances, her office was closed, and she was banned from legislative premises during this time.
Bamidele recently sparked more discussions about the issue when he called the suspension one of the lowest moments of the current Senate. His comments have reignited conversations about how the case was handled and the credibility of the committee report that led to her suspension.
Oshiomhole’s new claims are likely to increase demands for transparency regarding the committee's actions and the process that led to the suspension of the Kogi Central senator.
As of now, neither the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions nor the Senate leadership has responded officially to Oshiomhole’s claims. Attempts to get a response from Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
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