Edo North senator claims some lawmakers were falsely listed as endorsing six-month suspension; says affected senators, including Ireti Kingibe, denied signing the document

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North, has alleged that the report backing the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan contained forged or improperly included signatures of at least three lawmakers.

Oshiomhole made the claim while reacting to comments by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who had described the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan as one of the most troubling moments of the 10th Senate.

According to the former Edo State governor, some senators whose names appeared on the committee report have privately denied signing or endorsing its recommendations.

He specifically referenced Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Federal Capital Territory, saying she expressed shock upon discovering that her name was attached to the document.

“The committee does a hearing; members are expected to sign the report to endorse it. If you don’t agree, you can abstain,” Oshiomhole said.

“But some said they didn’t sign, yet their names were published. People like Senator Ireti Kingibe told me, ‘I didn’t sign that report, but my name was published.’”

Oshiomhole suggested that attendance records may have been used in place of actual signatures, a practice he described as improper.

“So, where many don’t accept the content, they could abstain from signing it because to sign is to endorse,” he added. “One, two or three senators said, ‘We didn’t sign, but our names were there.’”

He, however, noted that he could not confirm the administrative process behind the report but urged scrutiny of the claim.

“But how? Some say maybe they attached an attendance register, which is not the appropriate thing,” he said. “That’s not my problem. If Opeyemi said so, I think you should take it seriously.”

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 over allegations of gross misconduct and unruly behaviour, linked to her repeated accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Her suspension barred her from the National Assembly complex, suspended her salaries and allowances, and sealed her office.