Senate suspends Natasha Akpoti for six months, withdraws allowances
The senate has suspended Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, lawmaker representing Kogi central, for six months.
The decision followed the adoption of the report by the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions.
The committee, headed by Neda Imaseun, presented the panel’s report during plenary on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan ignored the committee’s invitation probing the altercation she had with Senate President Godswill Akpabio in February.
THE PANEL’S RECOMMENDATION
The senate approved the committee’s recommendation that Akpoti-Uduaghan should be suspended from all legislative activities effective immediately.
The red chamber also approved that her office should be locked, and she must hand over all senate properties in her possession to the clerk of the national assembly for the duration of the suspension.
The upper legislative chamber ruled that neither the senator nor her staff should be seen within the national assembly premises during the suspension period.
The committee recommended that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s salaries, allowances, and those of her legislative aides should be suspended, along with the withdrawal of all security detail for the duration of the suspension.
However, Orji Kalu, senator representing Abia north, moved an amendment that the salaries of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legislative aides should not be suspended. The prayer was adopted.
The senate also passed an amendment that the six-month suspension can be reviewed if the senator tenders a public apology to the red chamber.
