Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, has stated that as a member of the Senate Committee on Code of Conduct, Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, he was not involved in the discussions or decisions regarding the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months on Thursday after the Senate adopted the report from the committee following her dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangements in the Red Chamber the previous week.
The situation escalated when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan later accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, among other allegations, during a live TV interview.
However, Senator Dickson, a fellow member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) like Akpoti-Uduaghan, provided new insights into the circumstances surrounding her suspension.
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After visiting Akpoti-Uduaghan and her husband, Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, in Abuja on Friday, Dickson shared that the Senator had disclosed further details to them.
He indicated that he would work on finding a way to reconcile the parties involved.
Senator Dickson wrote: “The public may recall that, for the past 3 days, I was attending the 3 day workshop on the Tax Reform Bills which started on Wednesday 5th of March and ended this evening, Friday 7th of March. This is why I was not available yesterday to sit as a member of the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of the issues concerning our colleague Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s suspension, haven been assured by the Committee Chairman that the hearing would hold on Wednesday the 11th of March for which notices had already been issued. I was not notified of the emergency seating yesterday.
“As a result of the strong views I had already canvassed, my colleagues and I were working on the Tax Reform Bills yesterday and as such was unable to join the plenary sitting which considered the report of the Ethics Committee that deliberated and approved the suspension.
“This evening after concluding the retreat, I led a delegation of some senators of opposition parties on a visit to our colleague Senator Natasha and met with her and her husband at their home.
“Senators as humans, have their low and high moments and it is a tradition for Senators to support each other during these moments.
“We offered words of encouragement, prayers and advice on a quick resolution of the issues surrounding her suspension. Having heard more from her and her husband for the first time, I will discuss with other colleagues on how to intervene and engage with the leadership of the senate to resolve the issues as soon as possible.”
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