The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe on Wednesday confirmed that she never saw the report that recommended the six-month suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, in 2025.
Kingibe, who made the disclosure while during an appearance on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’, explained her role in the proceedings that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s eventual suspension.
“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat. I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee,” she said.
The FCT senator said she, however, signed the attendance register before leaving for a tax reform retreat.
“We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time,” she said.
“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it.”
Kingibe said she later complained to colleagues about not seeing the report before it was considered.
“I even complained to other senators, specifically to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. I complained to him very bitterly that I had not seen that report. I didn’t see it then. I have not seen it till now,” she said.
Her comments come days after Adams Oshiomhole, senator for Edo north, claimed that the signatures of at least three lawmakers were forged or improperly included in the report that recommended Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
Speaking during a Monday interview on AIT, Oshiomhole had said some senators whose names appeared in the report had privately told him they neither signed the document nor endorsed its recommendations.
He specifically cited Kingibe, claiming she was surprised to find her name as one of the signees of the report.