The Nigerian Senate has dismissed allegations by Senator Adams Oshiomhole that signatures were forged in the process leading to the six-month suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, described the claims as baseless and insisted that no senator’s signature was falsified during the proceedings that culminated in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District, had alleged during an interview on AIT that the names of at least three lawmakers were included in the committee report recommending Natasha’s suspension without their consent.
According to him, some senators whose names appeared in the report privately informed him that they neither signed the document nor endorsed its recommendations.
Reacting to the allegation on Tuesday, Adaramodu questioned the basis of the claim.
“That is not true. Signatures forged, over what?” he said.
The Senate spokesman also dismissed reports involving Senator Ireti Kingibe, noting that she had never raised any concerns before the Senate over the matter.
He maintained that senators are independent-minded individuals who would not hesitate to challenge any wrongdoing.
“Nobody will say that he or she was coerced or somebody’s signature was forged; that has never happened in the Senate, and it cannot happen. Senators are mature men and women. If there is any infraction, the affected person will speak up,”Adaramodu stated.
He added that the Senate would review Oshiomhole’s comments and decide on its official position.
“We are going to look into it and take a stand. But no senator has reported that his or her signature was forged during the Natasha matter,” he added.
Adaramodu further stressed that the suspension process was openly debated during plenary and conducted in accordance with Senate rules and procedures.
Senate Committee Backs NDLEA’s Anti-Drug War
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics has pledged its full support for the ongoing efforts of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to combat substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
The assurance came during a visit by the newly appointed chairman of the committee, Senator Joseph Igiagbe Ikpea, to the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Ikpea said the visit was aimed at fostering collaboration with the agency and commended Marwa’s record of public service.
In his response, Marwa thanked the senator for the visit and reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to work closely with the Senate committee.