The 10th Senate, led by Godswill Akpabio, has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central senatorial district, for six months over alleged misconduct. This decision was made after the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions presented its report during plenary.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is not an isolated incident in Nigeria’s Senate. Several senators have faced similar disciplinary actions in the past, often sparking debates about the balance between maintaining order and protecting free speech.
Below is a complied list of some senators who have also faced similar fate:
– Femi Okurounmu (Ogun Central): Suspended in 1999 for alleging that fellow senators planned to impeach President Olusegun Obasanjo. Okurounmu’s comments were seen as a breach of Senate rules and etiquette. He was later recalled after apologizing to the Senate and retracting his statements.
– Joseph Waku (Benue): Suspended in 2000 for suggesting that a military coup would be preferable to President Obasanjo’s rule. Waku’s comments were widely condemned as inflammatory and irresponsible. His suspension was seen as a necessary measure to maintain order and discipline within the Senate.
– Arthur Nzeribe (Imo, Orlu Constituency): Indefinitely suspended in 2002 over a ₦22 million fraud allegation. Nzeribe’s suspension was linked to allegations of financial impropriety and abuse of office. The Senate’s decision was seen as a move to uphold transparency and accountability within its ranks.
– Isah Mohammed (Niger Central): Suspended for two weeks in 2004 for physically assaulting Senator Iyabo Anisulowo. Mohammed’s actions were widely condemned as unacceptable and unbecoming of a senator. His suspension was seen as a necessary measure to maintain order and discipline within the Senate.
– Ali Ndume (Borno South): Suspended for six months in 2017 for calling for an investigation into allegations involving Senate President Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye. Ndume’s suspension was seen as a move to assert the Senate’s authority and maintain order.
– Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central): Suspended in 2018 for opposing the election reordering bill. Omo-Agege’s suspension was linked to allegations of disrupting Senate proceedings and violating its rules. The Senate’s decision was seen as a move to uphold its authority and maintain order.
– Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central): Suspended for three months in 2024 for alleging that the National Assembly padded the 2024 budget by ₦3 trillion. Ningi’s suspension was seen as a move to assert the Senate’s authority and maintain order.
These instances highlight the Senate’s efforts to maintain discipline and order within its ranks.