The Nigerian Senate has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for investigation following a disagreement over her seating arrangement in the chamber.
The committee, led by Senator Neda Imaseun, has been given two weeks to review the matter and present its findings.
According to The PUNCH, the decision was made after a voice vote during Tuesday’s plenary, as senators debated Akpoti-Uduaghan’s confrontation with the Senate leadership regarding her designated seat.
Lawmakers stressed the need for adherence to parliamentary procedures and the preservation of decorum.
Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, who raised the motion under Senate Orders 1(b) and 10, criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct during the February 20 session.
According to Adaramodu, her actions sparked widespread media attention, prompting efforts to repair the public image of the 10th Senate.
“The Senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight,” Adaramodu stated. “Where there is sin, there must be a penalty.”
Supporting the motion, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele reaffirmed the importance of maintaining order in the chamber.
“We are bound by our rules, and under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable,” Bamidele declared.
He dismissed suggestions that gender bias played a role in the dispute, noting that other senior senators had complied with seating adjustments without incident.
In his ruling, Senate President Godswill Akpabio tasked the Ethics Committee with conducting a comprehensive review of the incident. He emphasized that while lawmakers are free to sit anywhere, official contributions must be made from their designated seats.
“The first day she was sworn in, she stood up to contribute, and I was worried if she had even read the rule book,” Akpabio remarked. “There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure.”
Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of the Senate rules, he reminded senators of the importance of maintaining order, noting that disruptive behavior, such as chewing gum or drinking water during proceedings, is prohibited.
The Ethics Committee is expected to conclude its investigation and report back to the Senate within the stipulated timeframe.
