The Senate, on Thursday, March 6, suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct in the red chamber.
The decision followed the consideration and adoption of the report presented by Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, during plenary.
Here is a list of senators who have previously faced suspension and the reasons behind their sanctions:
1. Joseph Waku
Waku, a lawmaker from Benue state, was suspended by the senate in 2000 after he stirred a major controversy in the country.
The senator suggested that a military coup would be preferable to allowing former President Olusegun Obasanjo to continue as a dictator.
He died on February 3, 2019.
2. Arthur Nzeribe
Nzeribe, a lawmaker from Imo state, was suspended indefinitely in November 2002 by then-Senate President Pius Anyim over allegations of N22 million fraud.
He died in 2022 at the age of 83.
3. Ali Ndume
In 2017, the upper legislative chamber suspended Ndume, a senator representing Borno South, for six months for “embarrassing” then Senate President Bukola Saraki and Dino Melaye, a former senator representing Kogi West.
Ndume had asked the senate to investigate the allegation that the upper chamber was exacting vengeance on Hameed Ali, former comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), because of a seized bullet-proof car allegedly owned by Saraki.
The Borno senator also demanded that Melaye be probed for certificate forgery.
Saraki and Melaye were later cleared of the allegations by a senate panel.
4. Ovie Omo-Agege
Omo-Agege, a lawmaker from Delta state, was suspended by the senate in 2018 after he kicked against the election reordering bill.
Although the lawmaker later apologised for his stand, he still went to court to get a restraining order against any move by the senate to suspend him.
His action was said to have angered some of his colleagues, who pushed for his suspension.
5. Ningi
The senate suspended Abdul Ningi on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, for three months for alleging that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion. He subsequently resigned as chairman of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF).
6. Natasha
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has attributed her recent issues in the Senate to her refusal to accept sexual advances from Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In an interview with Arise Television on Friday, the lawmaker, who made headlines last week following a public dispute with Akpabio, shared her side of the story.
The conflict began on Tuesday when Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered that her seat in the Senate had been moved without her consent. She voiced her frustration, which led to a brief disruption in legislative proceedings.
