The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions has thrown out a petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, citing procedural violations.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, announced the decision on Wednesday 5th of March during a probe hearing at the National Assembly, declaring the petition “dead on arrival.” He pointed out that Akpoti-Uduaghan had signed the document herself, a direct breach of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Rules, which requires petitions to be endorsed by a third party.
Beyond the procedural flaw, Imasuen emphasized that the issues raised in the petition were already before the courts, making them sub judice and beyond the Senate’s jurisdiction.
Despite being summoned to defend her claims, Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to appear before the committee. The hearing, scheduled for 2 p.m., was delayed nearly an hour due to her absence, although Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu arrived shortly before proceedings began.
With the petition dismissed, the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations against Akpabio appears to have reached a dead end within the Senate.
