Oby Ezekwesili and Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi,
Ola Akinwunmi
A contentious altercation erupted between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi North, and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, during a Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions hearing on Tuesday.
The session was convened to address a new petition submitted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, alleging sexual harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The discord began when Zubairu Yakubu, the chief petitioner from Kogi Central, questioned the impartiality of the committee’s chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen. Yakubu expressed concerns over Imasuen’s handling of the case, suggesting that pre-existing ties between some committee members and Akpabio could compromise their neutrality. He stated, “How can the chairman serve as a judge in a case where he has already publicly taken a position?”
Ezekwesili, present alongside Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, sought to be sworn in as a witness, asserting her rights as a Nigerian citizen. This request led to a heated exchange with Senator Nwaebonyi, who retorted, “You’re a fool. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here.” Ezekwesili responded by calling him a “hooligan,” further escalating the confrontation.
The altercation momentarily disrupted the hearing until order was restored. Senator Patrick Ndubueze of Imo West appealed for decorum, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the Senate’s dignity. He remarked, “We should stop behaving like people in the marketplace. This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Following the incident, Chairman Imasuen adjourned the hearing indefinitely, citing the ongoing court case involving Akpabio’s wife and Akpoti-Uduaghan, as well as the absence of the Kogi lawmaker to defend her allegations.
Addressing journalists afterward, Ezekwesili criticized the Senate’s approach, describing it as a gross violation of the Nigerian Constitution. She condemned the committee’s prioritization of Senate rules over constitutional provisions, particularly in disciplinary actions and petitions. Ezekwesili warned that such actions could set a dangerous precedent where internal rules override the Constitution, potentially undermining democracy.
The incident has sparked discussions about the Senate’s adherence to constitutional principles and the treatment of petitions involving high-ranking officials.