The suspended senator from Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was visited at her residence on Friday by a company of senators from opposing political groups.
Former Bayelsa state governor Seriake Dickson headed the group.
Dickson posted a picture of the visit to his social media accounts. Dickson was a member of the Senate’s ethics and privileges committee, which suggested Akpoti-Uduaghan be suspended.
He claimed that on the day of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, he was unable to attend Senate sessions due to his involvement with the tax reform bills.
“The public may recall that, for the past 3 days, I was attending the 3-day workshop on the Tax Reform Bills which started on Wednesday 5th of March and ended this evening, Friday 7th of March,” he said.
“This is why I was not available yesterday to sit as a member of the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of the issues concerning our colleague Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s suspension, haven been assured by the Committee Chairman that the hearing would hold on Wednesday the 11th of March for which notices had already been issued. I was not notified of the emergency seating yesterday
“This evening, after concluding the retreat, I led a delegation of some senators of opposition parties on a visit to our colleague Senator Natasha and met with her and her husband at their home.”
Dickson said that, as humans, senators have their low and high moments, “and it is a tradition for Senators to support each other during these moments”.
“We offered words of encouragement, prayers and advice on a quick resolution of the issues surrounding her suspension,” he added.
“Having heard more from her and her husband for the first time, I will discuss with other colleagues on how to intervene and engage with the leadership of the senate to resolve the issues as soon as possible.”
In response to her refusal of her new position in the upper chamber, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months on Thursday.
The argument turned into a sexual harassment accusation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by the Kogi senator.
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There has been a lot of criticism and controversy around her suspension, especially from civil society organisations and women’s rights groups.
The suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan has been condemned by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which claims that Akpabio’s action is blatantly a cover-up effort.
