During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, a tense exchange occurred between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North and former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili.
This confrontation unfolded during a session of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which was discussing a new petition from Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ezekwesili attended the hearing alongside Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attorney, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, and the petitioner from Kogi Central, Zubairu Yakubu. Discontent arose when Yakubu called for Committee Chairman Neda Imasuen to step aside from the proceedings, citing concerns about his handling of allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.
He questioned the fairness of having a chairman who had publicly taken a stance on the matter, and expressed concerns about the potential bias of committee members with connections to Akpabio. His statements provoked anger among some lawmakers, who accused him of trying to undermine the committee’s integrity.
Ezekwesili faced criticism for seemingly trying to intrude into the proceedings, but she asserted her desire to be heard, stating, “I have asked to be put on oath as a witness. I am a citizen of Nigeria.” This prompted a heated response from Nwaebonyi, who insulted her and accused her of belittling womanhood, while she called him a “hooligan,” escalating the argument.
The scuffle temporarily halted the hearing until order was restored. After the tension subsided, Senator Patrick Ndubueze from Imo West called for decorum, emphasizing the need to behave appropriately in the Senate and expressing disappointment over the petitioner’s lack of trust in the institution.
Imasuen eventually suspended the hearing indefinitely, highlighting the ongoing court cases involving both Akpabio’s wife and Akpoti-Uduaghan and the absence of Akpoti-Uduaghan to defend her claims. Following the hearing, Ezekwesili criticized the Senate’s conduct as a serious breach of the Nigerian Constitution and legal norms, arguing that they placed Senate rules above constitutional rights in disciplinary matters.
“The Nigerian Senate insists citizens obey its rules, even when they conflict with the Constitution, which is unacceptable in a democracy,” Ezekwesili stated, referencing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension as an example of disregard for constitutional processes.
She warned that the Senate’s actions could create a precedent where internal regulations undermine the constitution, stressing the need for the Senate to uphold constitutional mandates to prevent authoritarian manipulation of justice.
