The representative of Ebonyi North in the senate, Mr Onyekachi Nwaebonyi and former minister of education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili almost turned the senate hearing of a sexual harassment petition filed by Kogi Central lawmaker, Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the senate president, Mr Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili attended the senate committee on ethics, privileges and petitions session alongside Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, Mr Abiola Akiode and petitioner, Mr Zubairu Yakubu.
According to Vanguard, tensions rose when Yakubu attempted to speak while the committee chairman, Mr Neda Imasuen, was addressing the panel.
The petitioner urged the chairman of the committee, Mr Neda Imasuen to step down over the manner he had so far handled the sexual harassment petition against Akpabio.
‘’How can the chairman serve as a judge in a case where he has already publicly taken a position? What is the need for us to present our case when a verdict has already been given before hearing us?” Yakubu queried.
He further alleged that some committee members had ties to Akpabio, which, in his view, compromised their ability to be neutral.
Yakubu was instructed to mute his microphone according to parliament rule, prompting Ezekwesili to intervene.
Nwaebonyi then interjected, leading Ezekwesili to advise him to “compose himself and stop making noise.”
The remark infuriated the senator who retorted: “Don’t insult me. And you are even telling me to keep my mouth shut. Who are you? You must be a fool, a fool at 70. That is what you are. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you can never be here. Who are you?
Ezekwesili responded by calling Nwaebonyi a “hooligan” escalating the confrontation and briefly halting proceedings.
After the tension was doused, the legislator representing Imo West, Mr Patrick Ndubueze, appealed for calm.
“We should stop behaving like people in the marketplace. This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is sad to hear you (petitioner) say you don’t have confidence in the Senate. What it means is that everybody here is not trustworthy.
“Yes, we are all citizens of this country. But here, you must be recognised before you speak. That is the rule. We cannot just jump to answer questions because you are a petitioner. This is a standing committee.”
Thereafter, Imasuen adjourned the hearing indefinitely following observations that both Akpabio’s wife and Akpoti-Uduaghan had a case in court.
He also noted that the suspended Kogi lawmaker was not available to defend her allegation.
