Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory, has publicly disassociated herself from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions’ report that recommended the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a candid interview on Wednesday, Kingibe revealed she was surprised to discover a photocopy of her signature on the controversial document, insisting she neither reviewed nor endorsed the final report.
According to the FCT senator, she attended an initial meeting of the Ethics Committee but departed early to participate in a tax reform retreat, which she deemed more relevant to her constituents’ interests. She maintained that she was not given the opportunity to examine the report before it was submitted to the Senate.
“I couldn’t have endorsed the committee report because I didn’t see it,” Kingibe stated. She clarified that she is not accusing anyone of forgery but emphasised the need for senators to be afforded adequate time to scrutinise committee findings before appending their signatures.
The lawmaker raised her concerns with senior Senate leadership, including the Deputy Senate President, after noticing the photocopied signature. She described the practice of approving reports without proper review as detrimental to transparency and accountability in the legislature.
Kingibe further suggested that the Akpoti-Uduaghan case was poorly handled and could have been resolved more amicably. She noted that similar infractions by senators in the past were typically settled through apologies rather than prolonged disciplinary actions like a six-month suspension.
Beyond the suspension saga, Senator Kingibe delivered a broader critique of the 10th Senate, accusing it of functioning more as a “cooperating arm” of the Executive than an independent body mandated to provide checks and balances.
She argued that many executive actions succeed largely because of the legislature’s acquiescence, adding that the National Assembly must do more to assert its constitutional oversight role. “The truth of the matter is there are many things that I feel should not be the way they are,” she remarked.
Kingibe’s position comes amid heightened tensions in the Senate over the handling of the Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension and allegations of procedural irregularities. Senate leaders, including former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, have previously pushed back against claims of forgery, insisting no signatures were falsified.
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