Senate To Probe Oshiomhole’s Forgery Allegations

The Senate has dismissed allegations by former Edo State governor and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, that signatures on a committee report recommending the suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan were forged, describing the claims as unfounded and mischievous.

Speaking to Daily Sun, Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, said the upper chamber operates transparently and in strict compliance with its rules, adding that the Senate would review and formally examine Oshiomhole’s remarks.

“We are going to review any statements made by him. The Senate will take a cursory look at either extraneous, spontaneous or intentional comments from any senator appropriately,” Adaramodu said.

“We are going to look into it. We will take a stand and everyone will know where we stand.”

He maintained that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was based solely on violations of Senate rules and that the disciplinary process was conducted openly and in accordance with parliamentary procedures.

“Senator Natasha was sanctioned for violating the Senate Rules. We made it clear that if anyone fails to abide by the rules, there will be consequences.

“The matter was openly tabled at plenary. Journalists were there, everybody was there, and the proceedings were conducted in the open. The issue was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions,” he said.

According to Adaramodu, the committee handled the matter in line with established procedures and afforded the Kogi Central lawmaker the opportunity to defend herself.

“When the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions submitted its report, Senator Natasha did not avail herself of the opportunity to appear before the committee, despite being invited.

“The Senate thereafter took a decision. The reasons for that decision were openly discussed and were not shrouded in secrecy,” he added.

Responding directly to allegations that some senators’ signatures were either forged or improperly appended to the committee report, the Senate spokesman rejected the claim outright.

“The issue of whether some people signed a document or did not sign a document simply did not arise.

“Furthermore, Senator Adams Oshiomhole is not an advocate for other senators. If any senator believed that an infraction had been committed against him or her, that senator would have raised the matter on the floor of the Senate,” he said.

Adaramodu described the allegation as an afterthought, noting that the matter relates to proceedings that occurred several months ago.

“This issue being raised now concerns an event that occurred about a year ago. Somebody is simply making it up now, and I think that smacks of mischief.

“I do not believe any senator would allege that a colleague’s signature was forged by the leadership of the Senate in order to influence a Senate decision. It has never happened, it will not happen, and it cannot happen,” he stated.

Reaffirming the Senate’s position on the suspension, he said the matter was debated publicly and transparently.

“It was debated on the floor of the Senate openly at the plenary in the full glare of every Nigerian and even the international audience, and so nothing to hide.

“All Nigerians knew where we stood then on the issue of Natasha… that she ran foul of the Senate’s orders. And we are orderly because we are bounded by orders of the Senate,” he said.

Oshiomhole had earlier alleged during a televised interview that at least three senators privately informed him that they did not sign the committee report recommending Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, despite their names appearing on the document.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, was suspended in March 2025 over what the Senate described as “gross misconduct and unruly behaviour” following a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Source: Daily Sun

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