A heated exchange occurred on Tuesday between Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the senator representing Ebonyi North, and Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. The hearing was convened to discuss a petition filed by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
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Ezekwesili attended the session with Abiola Akiode, legal counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the petitioner, Zubairu Yakubu. The proceedings quickly escalated when discussions became tense over the seriousness of the matter being considered. Ezekwesili later recounted the incident during an interview with ARISE NEWS.
According to Ezekwesili, the confrontation began when a committee member said, “We do serious things here. We don’t have time for unserious things.” At that moment, she raised her hand to object, saying, “That was a wrong choice of words. We are not unserious people, and this is a serious matter.” The committee, debating the petitioner’s concerns, decided not to proceed with the matter after Yakubu refused to continue without assurance on his objections.
The situation became more complicated when the committee members pointed out that the case was sub judice due to ongoing court proceedings involving the wife of the Senate President. This prompted further tensions between Ezekwesili and Senator Nwaebonyi. Ezekwesili claimed that Nwaebonyi interjected, asserting that he represented the Senate President and was ready to proceed if the petitioner was not.
Ezekwesili, visibly irritated, sharply responded, “Can you please shut up?” This remark sparked reactions from other committee members and further fueled the dispute.
In her interview, Ezekwesili expressed admiration for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bravery, calling her “heroic” and an example to young women. She highlighted the need for the justice system to address serious issues of misconduct without being swayed by the power dynamics in public institutions.
Ezekwesili said the incident exposed the culture of silencing women in public spaces when they challenge the status quo. “What you saw today is what women go through when cameras are not on. The culture of silencing women who seek justice is real, and today, cameras just captured what happens frequently without being seen,” she stated.
She emphasized the need for an independent investigation into the sexual harassment allegations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate President. Ezekwesili argued that the rules of the Senate were being misused to avoid addressing the allegations properly, stating that “Senate rules are subordinate to the Constitution and the laws of the land.”
The former Minister also voiced concern over how the Senate had handled the matter, accusing them of attempting to silence the allegations and dismissing the seriousness of the issue. She expressed frustration at how the Senate had not properly addressed the sexual harassment allegations, despite Akpoti-Uduaghan’s brave stance. “What we need is a fair hearing,” she said.
Ezekwesili also pointed out the inconsistency in the application of Senate rules and highlighted that the ongoing case, including the involvement of the Senate President’s wife, could be an attempt to cover up the allegations. She asserted that the Senate’s actions had undermined democracy and the rule of law.
On the future of the matter, Ezekwesili expressed confidence that Akpoti-Uduaghan would continue to fight for justice despite the Senate’s attempts to derail her. She concluded by calling on Nigerians to demand better accountability from lawmakers, urging them to support the right of women to be heard in cases of sexual misconduct and harassment.
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