The chairman ruled that Akpoti-Uduaghan personally signed the petition rather than having it endorsed by a third party, making it invalid under senate rules.
The senate has dismissed a petition filed by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi central) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, citing procedural irregularities and legal restrictions.
At an investigative hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo south), chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, ruled the petition “dead on arrival,” pointing to a violation of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders.
Imasuen explained that Akpoti-Uduaghan personally signed the petition rather than having it endorsed by a third party, making it invalid under senate rules. He further emphasised that the petition’s subject matter was already before the courts, rendering it sub judice and beyond the senate’s jurisdiction for deliberation.
“The petition that she (Natasha) presented today is actually dead on arrival; it runs contrary to Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator may present to the senate a petition signed by him or herself. Since that petition was signed by her, it will not be entertained by this committee,” he said.
Among those in attendance was Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, who had initially moved the motion that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s referral to the committee. Also present was Muktar Usman, Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, who provided a chronological account of the events leading to the investigation.
Other members of the committee, including Sen.Titus Zam (APC, Benue north-west) and Sen. Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC, Ondo central), participated in the proceedings.
However, despite the committee’s scheduled sitting, Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to appear before the panel, leaving her case to be deliberated in her absence.
