Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has alleged that the signatures of at least three senators were either forged or improperly included in the report that led to the suspension of Kogi Central lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Speaking during an interview on Africa Independent Television on Monday, Oshiomhole questioned the authenticity of some endorsements attached to the Senate committee report that recommended Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension.
The former Edo State governor was reacting to recent comments by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who described the suspension of the Kogi senator as one of the lowest moments of the 10th Senate.
Oshiomhole claimed that several lawmakers whose names appeared on the report had privately informed him that they neither signed nor approved the document.
According to him, one of those who raised concerns was the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe.
“The committee does a hearing; members are expected to sign the report to endorse it. If you don’t agree, you can abstain. But some said they didn’t sign, yet their names were published,” Oshiomhole said.
He added, “People like Senator Ireti Kingibe. She told me, ‘But I didn’t sign that report. But my name was published.’”
The senator argued that listing lawmakers as endorsing a report without their consent would violate parliamentary procedures.
“So, where many don’t accept the content, they could abstain from signing it because to sign is to endorse. One, two or three senators said, ‘We didn’t sign, but our names were there,’” he stated.
Questioning how the names were included, Oshiomhole said, “Some say maybe they attached an attendance register, which is not the appropriate thing. But that’s not my problem. If Opeyemi said so, I think you should take it seriously.”
The allegation has renewed attention on the circumstances surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, which has remained a subject of public debate since it was announced in March 2025.
The Senate had suspended the Kogi Central senator for six months after adopting the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which found her guilty of alleged misconduct and unruly behaviour.
Her suspension followed a highly publicised dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of victimisation and other improprieties.
Senate leadership, however, maintained that the disciplinary action was based solely on her conduct during plenary proceedings.
The sanctions included the withdrawal of her salary and allowances, the closure of her National Assembly office, and a restriction on her access to legislative facilities during the suspension period.
Bamidele’s recent remarks describing the suspension as one of the most regrettable episodes of the current Senate have further intensified discussions about the handling of the case and the credibility of the committee report that informed the decision.
As of Monday, neither the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions nor the Senate leadership had publicly responded to Oshiomhole’s allegations. Efforts to obtain a reaction from the office of Senate President Akpabio were reportedly unsuccessful.
