The Senate has confirmed the suspension of senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six month period pending her written apology to the institution of senate to be reviewed.
The suspension came shortly after the chairman senate committee on Ethics, privileges and public petition senator Neda Imasuel, presented the report of his committee on the violation of the senate standing rule by senator Natasha
This issue came up when senator Natasha refused to move to a seat officially allocated to her by the senate president following the movement of some senators from the opposition party to the ruling party thereby changing their seating arrangement.
The senate standing order empowers the senate president to allocate seat for senators and that no senator may be allow to speak in the chamber in a seat other than the one allocated to him by the senate president.
As a result of this violation, a motion was filed by the spokes person of the senate, senator Yemi Adaramodu who felt that as image maker of the senate, Natasha’s behaviour is a violation of the senate standing rules, therefore, should be on check as such the senate president refered it to the committee of Ethics Privileges and public petition headed by Neda Imasuel
Presenting the report of the committee before the senate plenary this thursday, senator Neda said the committee invited both parties senator Yemi Adaramodu and Senator Natasha.
He said senator Yemi Adaramodu appeared before the committee and gave his submission on the issue while senator Natasha refused to attend despite the invitation the committee sent to her.
Senator Neda however said the committee did its work and made some observations and recommendations among which senator Natasha be suspended having satisfied that she committed the offence.
That she should be suspended for six months pending her written apology to the senate before the senate to reconsider the suspension period.
Similarly, the senate confirmed that the suspension is effective from today and should not participate in any legislative activities , her office be locked up and return all the National Assembly properties to the Clark of the National Assembly.
Also, all her security be removed and should not parade herself either Nationally or internationally as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and more so should not be seen within the National Assembly premises during her suspension period.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu amended one of the prayers, which stated that the allowances of her aides should be stopped. He argued that they are workers and, therefore, should receive their allowances—an amendment supported by Senator Ned Nwoko and ultimately approved by the Senate.
Almost all the senators supported the committee’s recommendations and prayers to suspend senator Natasha who was found by the committee to have violated the senate standing rules, by trying to force herself to speak from a seat not officially allocated to her
However, even on this position senator Natasha did not show any sign of remorse and tried to speak unofficially by saying ” This injustice can not be sustained” and then her mic was quickly closed.
Earlier before this resolution of the senate, Natasha presented a fresh petition against Senate president Godswil Akpabio on sexual harassment filed by a member from her community.
Cov/Bashir M
