Forgery Allegation Reopens Debate Over Natasha Suspension

 

Fresh doubts have been cast over the report that recommended the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, with Senator Adams Oshiomhole alleging that the signatures of at least three senators were forged or improperly attached to the document.

Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District, made the allegation on Monday during an interview on Africa Independent Television while reacting to recent remarks by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who described the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan as one of the lowest moments of the 10th Senate.

The former Edo State governor said several lawmakers whose names appeared on the report had privately told him they neither signed it nor endorsed its recommendations. He specifically named Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Federal Capital Territory, saying she expressed surprise after discovering her name had been listed.

“The committee does a hearing; members are expected to sign the report to endorse it. If you don’t agree, you can abstain. But some said they didn’t sign, yet their names were published,” Oshiomhole said.

He added, “People like Senator Ireti Kingibe. She told me, ‘But I didn’t sign that report. But my name was published.'”

He argued that including names without consent would breach parliamentary procedure, suggesting that an attendance register may have been used in place of formal endorsements.

“But that’s not my problem. If Opeyemi said so, I think you should take it seriously,” he said.

The claims revive a controversy that has dogged the Senate for more than a year. Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6, 2025, following a report by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. The suspension barred her from the National Assembly and stripped her of access to official resources over alleged breaches of Senate rules.

The action followed her televised allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, although the Senate maintained that the allegation was not the basis for the sanction.

The concerns raised by Oshiomhole are not entirely new. In March 2025, reports emerged that signatures attached to the committee report may have been drawn from an attendance register rather than being endorsements of the suspension recommendation. The reports triggered controversy during a closed-door Senate meeting, with some lawmakers reportedly disputing the use of their signatures.

Notably, Oshiomhole’s current position appears to contrast with his stance during the Senate’s executive session in March 2025, when reports indicated he opposed setting up a committee to review the matter, arguing that such a move could portray the Senate as weak.

The suspension was later overturned by the Federal High Court. Justice Binta Nyako ruled that the sanction lacked constitutional backing and ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reinstatement. The court, however, fined her ₦5 million for contempt over a Facebook post found to have violated an interim injunction.

Akpoti-Uduaghan subsequently returned to the Senate after her suspension period elapsed and following the court’s intervention.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions nor the Senate leadership had publicly responded to Oshiomhole’s allegations.

The renewed controversy is likely to intensify calls for greater transparency in Senate disciplinary proceedings and may reignite debate over the circumstances surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.