The recent suspension of the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Thursday, March 6 for six months over alleged misconduct in the red chamber has continued to make the news.
The decision was taken after a simple majority of senators during the plenary voted in support of the consideration and adoption of the report presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen.
Reacting to the development, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan said this “injustice will not be sustained”.
“I will continue the pursuit for justice. This injustice would not stand”, a furious Senator Natasha said while faulting her suspension.
Here is is brief profile of senators who have been suspended since 1999 and why they were suspended by the senate:
Francis Arthur Nzeribe
Arthur Francis Nzeribe was born on November 2, 1938. He was a two-time Senator for the Orlu Senatorial constituency in Imo State. He firstly served from October 1983 to December 1983. He was re-elected as a Senator from May 1999 to May 2007 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He died in 2022 at the age of 83.
Findings revealed that Arthur Nzeribe, a senator was suspended indefinitely in November 2002 by then-Senate President Pius Anyim over allegations of N22 million fraud.
Mohammed Ali Ndume
Mohammed Ali Ndume was born on November 20, 1959. He was a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011. He has been representing Borno South Senatorial District since 2011.
The Senate in 2017 suspended Ali Ndume for six months. According to findings, he was suspended for embarrassing then Senate President Bukola Saraki and Dino Melaye, a former senator representing Kogi West.
Recall that Ali Ndume had requested the senate to investigate the allegation that the upper chamber was exacting vengeance on Hameed Ali, former comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), because of a seized bullet-proof car allegedly owned by Saraki.
Ndume also requested that Dino Melaye, a senator representing Kogi West should be probed for certificate forgery. Both Saraki and Melaye were probed and later cleared of the allegations by a senate panel.
Joseph K.N Waku
Joseph K.N Waku was elected as a Senator for the Benue North-West Senatorial District under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999.
He was suspended by the Nigerian Senate in 2000 after he suggested that a military coup would be preferable than allowing former President Olusegun Obasanjo to continue as a dictator.
Waku, who was a known critic of President Olusegun Obasanjo, described his administration as the worst in Nigeria’s history. Many senators were aggrieved by his position which led to condemnation from all quarters, hence his suspension.
Abdul Ahmed Ningi
Abdul Ahmed Ningi was born on April 20, 1960. He was a Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015.
Findings revealed that he was suspended by the senate over allegation that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion.
The former majority leader was suspended for three months and he later resigned as chairman of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF).
Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege
Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege was born on August 3, 1963. He was a Senator who represented the good people of Delta Central Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023. He served as the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate from 2019 to 2023.
The Delta Central Senator was suspended by the senate for kicking against the election reordering bill in 2018.
Additional findings revealed that Omo-Agege approached the court to get a restraining order against any move by the senate to suspend him eventhough he later apologised for his position.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Natasha Hadiza Akpoti was born in 1979. She is a Nigerian lawyer and Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The Kogi Central Senator is currently serving a six-month suspension by the senate over misconduct.
The Senate Chief Whip had notified the Senate President about the refusal of Senator Natasha to occupy her newly assigned seat following a new sitting arrangement which occured as a result of cross-carpeting from one political party to another by some senators.
Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed her grievances and publicly called out the Senate President of intimidating and suppressing her voice in the senate.
In an interview with Arise Television, the lawmaker attributed her recent issues in the Senate to her refusal to accept sexual advances from Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
