Some senators’ signatures were forged to get Natasha suspended – Oshiomhole

Some senators’ signatures were forged to get Natasha suspended – Oshiomhole

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North/APC) has claimed that the signatures of at least three senators were either forged or improperly included in the report that recommended the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate in March 2025 for alleged gross misconduct and unruly behaviour.

The six-month suspension included the withdrawal of her salary and allowances, the closure of her office within the National Assembly complex, and a ban on access to legislative premises during the period.

The decision followed a report submitted by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Her suspension came amid a highly publicised dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she had repeatedly accused of victimisation and other improprieties.

Reacting to recent remarks by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who described Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension as one of the lowest moments of the 10th Senate, Oshiomhole alleged on Monday in an interview on Africa Independent Television that several lawmakers whose names appeared on the report had privately informed him that they neither signed the document nor endorsed its recommendations.

According to him, one of the senators who raised concerns about the report was the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe.

“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.

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

He argued that including names without lawmakers’ consent would constitute a breach of parliamentary procedure, stressing that committee members are expected to sign reports only when they agree with their contents.

“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,’” he said.

“But how? Some say maybe they attached an attendance register, which is not the appropriate thing. But that’s not my problem. If Opeyemi said so, I think you should take it seriously,” he argued.