*Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Nigeria鈥檚 former Minister for Education, accuses the Nigerian Senate of violating the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, at the public hearing of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan鈥檚 fresh petition over alleged sexual harassment preferred against Senate President Godwill Akpabio, in Abuja

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Nigeria鈥檚 former Minister for Education, has accused the Nigerian Senate of violating the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Ezekwesili stated this Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at the public hearing of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan鈥檚 fresh petition over alleged sexual harassment preferred against Senate President Godwill Akpabio.

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions had organised the forum over Mr. Zubairu Yakubu鈥檚 fresh petition submitted over suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegation against Akpabio.

Earlier at the Senate Committee’s hearing Tuesday, Dr. Ezekwesili, had appeared as a witness, having accompanied Yakubu, who appeared before the Senate Committee, to defend the petition.

She joined both Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, counsel to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Yakubu, the petitioner, at the Senate Committee hearing.

However, in the course of the proceedings, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi South, in Ebonyi State, also appeared as a witness for Senate President Akpabio at the hearing.

The Senator and Dr. Ezekwesili, however, clashed over the handling of the sexual harassment allegations.

In a video of the proceedings circulating in the public domain, a war of words ensued between Nwaebonyi and the former Education Minister, fondly called “Madam Due Process” while serving in the Nigerian Government.

She apparently, had complained about how the Natasha’s sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio was being handled by Senators.

War of words with Senator Nwaebonyi

As the session progressed at the hearing, and Yakubu made efforts at speaking while Committee Chairman Imasuen was speaking, the petitioner was asked to switch off his microphone.

A war of words between Senator Nwaebonyi and Dr. Ezekwesili had resulted from a Senator鈥檚 earlier remarks that followed the refusal of the former Minister, and other attendees “to take an oath” during the hearing.

While one of the Senators insisted that either they take the oath, or the Committee would end the meeting, Dr. Ezekwesili and her colleagues insisted on not taking the oath, during which Nwebonyi became apparently angry.

However, when Ezekwesili attempted to intervene, Senate Nwaebonyi, interrupted her in the process.

She then told the Distinguished Senator to 鈥渃ompose himself and stop making noise鈥� at the Committee’s hearing.

Ezekwesili’s statement immediately sparked an outburst from the Senator.

Despite the prodding of Barr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, a renowned legal practitioner, for Nwaebonyi to maintain his cool by not replying to her statement, the Senator rather retorted: “You’re a fool; a fool at 70. You have not changed,” describing Dr. Ezekwesili an “insult to womanhood.”

The Federal lawmaker also told her: “People like you are not supposed to be here; that’s why you cannot be here (referring to her winning an election to become a Senator). You are an insult to womanhood.鈥�

It should be noted that instead following her avowed “Due Process” in addressing the Senator’s name-calling, Ezekwesili too immediately replied, calling Nwaebonyi “a hooligan”.

And the Senator replied by calling her “a hooligan” as well during the Committee’s hearing before the Chairman stopped them before order was eventually restored, according to the video.

How the Senate rules violate the Constitution, by Ezekwesili

In her interaction with reporters after the heated exchanges with Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi at the Committee’s hearing Tuesday, Dr. Ezekwesili further argued that the Senate Rule cited by the committee was not superior to the Constitution.

The erstwhile Minister for Education also said: 鈥淭he Nigerian Senate keeps telling citizens they are subject to Senate rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution.

“This is unacceptable in a democracy.鈥�

According to her, the embattled Kogi Central lawmaker (Natasha) was denied fair hearing, insisting that it is in clear breach of provisions of the Constitution.

鈥淭he Senate placed its own rules above the laws of the land.

“Now, with this petitioner, they have done the same thing鈥攗sing procedural loopholes to avoid addressing critical issues,” Ezekwesili stated.

She equally submitted: 鈥淚f a petitioner says they do not believe the Senate committee will give them a fair hearing due to clear bias, it is only just that an independent body reviews the matter.

鈥淭he Senate must respect the Constitution. Otherwise, we risk turning our democracy into a system where powerful individuals manipulate processes to silence opposition and suppress justice.”

Yakubu, Akiyode-Afolabi fault Senate’s alleged inconsistencies on petitions

In respect of the alleged bias by the Senate on petitions on Natasha’s purported sexual harassment against Akpabio, Yakubu, the petitioner, cited previous remarks attributed to Senator Imasuen, Chairman of the Committee, where he described Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan鈥檚 petition as dead on arrival during a previous Committee sitting.

The petitioner asked: 鈥淗ow 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?”

He also expressed disappointment at the objection by the Committee to his request that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been suspended for six months by the Senate be allowed to come to the Senate Chamber, and testify before the panel as “a principal witness”.

He noted that the suspended Senator from Kogi Central Senatorial District is in custody of a crucial documentary evidence to support her claims.

Yakubu lamented that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has been barred from entering the National Assembly as part of her suspension.

鈥淚n my petition, I clearly stated that my witness would present her evidence personally.

“But she was not allowed into the premises. If my key witness is denied access, how can I proceed with my case?鈥�

Toeing Yakubu’s line of submission, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi , counsel to the petitioner, also faulted the alleged inconsistencies in the Senate鈥檚 handling of the petitions.

The counsel said: 鈥淭here is nothing in Yakubu鈥檚 petition that was not in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan鈥檚 original petition.

“If the Senate dismissed her petition as 鈥榙ead on arrival,鈥� then logically, Yakubu鈥檚 should also be dismissed.鈥�

She alleged: 鈥淭he Senate seems to be operating under its own rules, separate from the Constitution.

“That is why they can suspend a senator for six months without following due process.”

She further faulted the defence by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, that it could not hear a petition on a subsisting case before a court of competent jurisdiction.

Akinyode contended: 鈥淚f they knew the case was in court, they should have simply written to the petitioner, stating they could not entertain it. “Instead, they invited him, only to dismiss the petition on the basis that it was already in court.鈥�

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