Kingibe raises doubts over Natasha suspension, saying she neither saw nor signed the committee report adopted by the Senate

Fresh controversy has emerged over the six-month suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after Senator Ireti Kingibe disclosed that she neither saw nor signed the committee report that recommended the disciplinary action.

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Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, made the revelation during an interview on Arise News on Wednesday, raising new questions about the process that led to the suspension of the Kogi lawmaker.

The development comes months after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension sparked heated debate within political circles and among civil society groups, with critics questioning whether due process was fully followed.

Speaking during the interview, Kingibe said she had no knowledge of the contents of the report that eventually formed the basis for the Senate’s decision.

“I never saw the report that led to Senator Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat with Senator Adams Oshiomhole when I heard about the report,” she said.

According to Kingibe, she attended a meeting of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions alongside a few other committee members and signed the attendance register before leaving to participate in a retreat on tax reforms.

“I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee. We attended the committee meeting, signed the attendance register and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time,” she explained.

Kingibe further stated that she informed Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe that she neither reviewed nor endorsed any report recommending the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Her comments appear to reinforce concerns earlier raised by Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who reportedly questioned aspects of the committee report and suggested there may have been procedural irregularities surrounding its preparation and adoption.

The controversy has now drawn a response from Senate spokesman Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who indicated that the upper legislative chamber would examine concerns relating to the authenticity of signatures and endorsements attached to the report.

The proposed review is expected to focus on whether all procedural requirements were met before the report was presented and adopted by the Senate.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has remained one of the most discussed issues in the National Assembly this year, generating legal, political and public interest.

The disciplinary action effectively removed the senator from legislative activities for six months, prompting criticism from some political stakeholders and advocacy groups who argued that the punishment was excessive.

Supporters of the suspension, however, have maintained that the Senate acted within its powers and in accordance with its rules and procedures.

The latest disclosure by Kingibe introduces a significant new dimension to the debate, particularly as questions emerge over the documentation and approval process behind the committee’s recommendation.

If the Senate proceeds with the promised probe, the investigation could clarify whether the report accurately reflected the views of committee members and whether all endorsements attached to the document were properly obtained before it was considered by the chamber.

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For now, the revelations have intensified scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, with attention shifting to the integrity of the committee process that produced the recommendation adopted by the Senate.