By Ayodele Oni
The dust raised by the suspension of Kogi Central lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, last year by the Senate is yet to unsettle following revelation that signatures of some lawmakers were forged.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025, following a heated plenary confrontation over sitting arrangements.
Acting on the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, the Senate imposed a six-month suspension which included the closure of her office, suspension of salaries and allowances, withdrawal of security details, and restrictions on benefits for her legislative aides.
She returned to legislative duties in September 2025, after serving the suspension, which attracted criticism from civil society groups, legal practitioners, and some constituents who described the punishment as excessive.
Former Edo State governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, alleged that the names of some senators appeared on a Senate committee report recommending the suspension of the Kogi Central lawmaker, despite claims that they did not endorse the document.
Oshiomhole made the allegation while reacting to comments by the Senate Leader, who recently described Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension as one of the low points of the 10th Senate.
Speaking during an interview, Oshiomhole said he agreed with the Senate Leader’s assessment, citing concerns reportedly raised by some lawmakers over the report that led to Natasha’s suspension.
According to him, some senators, including Senator Ireti Kingibe, informed him that they did not sign the committee report even though their names appeared on the document.
“If he said that, yes. Because there are even people who claimed that their signatures were forged under the suspension document, people like Senator Ireti Kingibe.
“She told me, ‘But I didn’t sign that report. But my name was published,’” Oshiomhole said.
When asked whether he was referring specifically to the report recommending Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, Oshiomhole clarified that it was the same report presented before the Senate.
Explaining the legislative process, he noted that committee reports are expected to reflect the collective position of members and are typically endorsed through signatures.
He stressed that lawmakers who disagree with a report are free to withhold their signatures.
“The committee holds a hearing to hear what stakeholders have to say, then agrees on its findings and recommendations. Members of the committee are expected to sign that report so that it becomes the collective decision of the committee,” he explained.
Oshiomhole added that some senators maintained they did not endorse the report despite their names appearing on it.
“So, where many don’t accept the content, they could abstain from signing it because to sign is to endorse. One, two or three senators said, ‘We didn’t sign, but our names were there.’”
However, he stopped short of directly accusing anyone of forgery, suggesting instead that an attendance register may have been attached to the report in place of formal signatures.
“But how? Some say maybe they attached an attendance register, which is not the appropriate thing. But that’s not my problem,” he added.
The comments come days after Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension as “not a happy moment” for the 10th Senate, noting that it created perceptions of division and raised concerns about the treatment of female lawmakers.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
