Senator Ireti Kingibe says she never saw the Natasha suspension report that led to the Kogi Central lawmaker’s six-month ban in 2025, revealing she was absent from key deliberation
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, has disclosed that she never saw the committee report that recommended the suspension of her colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
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Kingibe made the revelation during a live interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday.
She explained that she was attending a tax reform retreat at the time of the critical proceedings and had only learned of the report afterwards.
“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension,” she stated clearly. “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.”
The FCT senator added that she signed the attendance register for the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints before leaving for what she considered a more pressing engagement affecting her constituents.
She expressed frustration over the matter to colleagues, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
“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 emphasised.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was suspended for six months in March 2025 following allegations of gross misconduct and unruly behaviour during plenary sessions.
The disciplinary action stemmed from a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, including her refusal to take an assigned seat and speaking without recognition.
The move, which attracted widespread criticism and legal challenges, also involved claims of sexual harassment against the Senate President — allegations he strongly denied.
The episode has continued to generate debate within the Red Chamber.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole recently alleged that signatures of at least three senators, including Kingibe, appeared on the report without their full endorsement.
The Senate has firmly rejected any suggestion of forgery, insisting the process followed due procedure.
A Court of Appeal ruling in February 2026 upheld the Senate’s powers in the matter.
Kingibe’s latest comments add a fresh layer of transparency to the lingering controversy.
As one of the few female voices in the chamber, her position highlights the intense pressures and competing priorities lawmakers often face.
Supporters view her candour as a refreshing stand for accountability, while others see it as part of broader questions about internal Senate processes.
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The development comes as the tenth National Assembly prepares for the final stretch before the 2027 elections, with issues of discipline, gender representation, and institutional integrity remaining at the forefront of public discourse.
