A dramatic confrontation erupted on Tuesday between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North and former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, during a Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions hearing.

The session, which was meant to address a petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, quickly descended into a heated exchange of insults.

Tensions escalated when petitioner Zubairu Yakubu attempted to speak while the committee chairman, Neda Imaseun, was addressing the panel. When Yakubu was instructed to mute his microphone, Ezekwesili intervened, leading to an angry reaction from Nwaebonyi, who was present as a witness for Akpabio.

“Compose yourself and stop making noise,” Ezekwesili told Nwaebonyi.

Furious at the remark, Nwaebonyi fired back: “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 then called him a “hooligan,” further escalating the confrontation and briefly halting proceedings.

The altercation stemmed from an earlier dispute over Ezekwesili and other attendees’ refusal to take an oath before the committee. One of the senators insisted that either they take the oath or the session be closed. Ezekwesili and her colleagues refused, which reportedly provoked Nwaebonyi’s outburst.

Social media has since been abuzz with reactions to the incident, with many Nigerians condemning Nwaebonyi’s conduct as unprofessional and unbecoming of a public official. Critics accused him of lacking decorum, with some calling for disciplinary action or even his recall from office. Others suggested that the senator undergo anger management training.

 

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Conversely, Ezekwesili’s composed response earned her praise from supporters who commended her resilience under pressure. A well-known advocate for good governance, transparency, and women’s rights, Ezekwesili has been vocal in her support for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan following the latter’s sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio and her controversial six-month suspension from the Senate.

Ezekwesili previously described Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension as a “vicious abuse of power.” She criticized the Senate for failing to investigate the sexual harassment claims, stating that instead of seeking justice, the chamber had “chosen the ignoble path of vicious abuse of power and desecration of our public institution.”

Following Tuesday’s altercation, the committee chair announced that the case was now before a court, leading to an abrupt adjournment of the hearing.

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