The absurdities rocking the Nigerian Senate continued on Tuesday as Senator representing Ebonyi North, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, lost his cool and rained insults on former Education Minister, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, calling her “a fool”.
But the former Minister also gave him the edge of her tongue, calling the young senator “hooligan”.
The altercation took place at the hearing by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions on a fresh petition submitted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ezekwesili attended the public hearing with Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, counsel to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the chief petitioner from Kogi Central, Zubairu Yakubu.
But no sooner that the hearing started than trouble burst like a sudden storm.
The petitioner had urged the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, to recuse himself from the process following the ‘controversial’ manner in which he had so far handled the alleged sexual harassment allegation against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“How can the chairman serve as a judge in a case where he has already publicly taken a position?” Yakubu queried. “What is the need for us to present our case when a verdict has already been given before hearing us?”
Not only that, Yakubu alleged that some committee members had pre-existing ties to Akpabio, which he insisted compromised their ability to be neutral.
Yakubu’s remarks got some lawmakers on the wrong side and they snapped. They accused him of attempting to undermine the committee’s credibility.
Ezekwesili’s insistence that she be heard sparked fierce reaction from the lawmakers who felt she was forcing herself into the proceedings.
Ezekwesili was not bothered by the reaction. She stood her ground, insisting that she be heard.
“I asked to be put on oath as a witness,” she said. “I am a citizen of Nigeria.”
Her insistence triggered a heated argument with Nwaebonyi lashing at her, saying: “You’re a fool. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here.”
Ezekwesili called him a “hooligan,” and the fire escalated. The verbal battle momentarily disrupted the hearing before order was restored.
After the tension was doused, the legislator representing Imo West, Senator Patrick Ndubueze appealed for calm before addressing the committee.
“We should stop behaving like people in the marketplace,” he counselled. “This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is sad to hear you (petitioner) say you don’t have confidence in the Senate. What it means is that not everybody here is trustworthy.
“Yes, we are all citizens of this country. But here, you must be recognised before you speak. That is the rule. We cannot just jump to answer questions because you are a petitioner. This is a Standing Committee,” he said.
However, Imasuen adjourned the hearing indefinitely following observations that both Akpabio’s wife and Akpoti-Uduaghan have a case in court coupled with the absence of the Kogi Central lawmaker to defend her allegation.
Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Ezekwesili described the Senate’s approach as a gross violation of the Nigerian Constitution and legal framework.
She decried the committee’s insistence on placing Senate rules above constitutional provisions, particularly in cases involving disciplinary actions and petitions.
“The Nigerian Senate keeps telling citizens they are subject to Senate rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution. This is unacceptable in a democracy,” Ezekwesili said.
Speaking on the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Ezekwesili posited that it was carried out without due regard for the constitution.
“The Senate placed its own rules above the laws of the land,’ Ezekwesili maintained. “Now, with this petitioner, they have done the same thing-using procedural loopholes to avoid addressing critical issues.
“If a petitioner says they do not believe the Senate committee will give them a fair hearing due to clear bias, it is only just that an independent body reviews the matter.”
The former Minister of Education warned that the Senate’s actions could set a dangerous precedent where internal rules override the Constitution.
“The Senate must respect the Constitution,” she continued. “Otherwise, we risk turning our democracy into a system where powerful individuals manipulate processes to silence opposition and suppress justice.”
