‘No Signature Was Forged In Natasha’s Suspension Report’ – Senate Replies Oshiomhole

The Senate has dismissed claims by Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, that some lawmakers’ signatures were forged or improperly included in the report recommending the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over misconduct, describing the allegation as untrue.

According the TheCable, the Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, made the clarification over a phone call while responding to questions over remarks made by Oshiomhole during a Monday night interview on Africa Independent Television (AIT) show, where the Edo North Senator alleged that some Senators whose names appeared on the committee report did not endorse the document.

According to Adaramodu, no Senator has raised any complaint regarding forged signatures or irregularities in the report that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.

“That is not true. Signatures forged, over what?” the online newspaper quoted as Adaramodu saying during the telephone interview.

Recall that Oshiomhole had claimed that Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), once told him she only signed the attendance register at the Ethics Committee meeting and did not endorse the report recommending Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, but saw her purported signature on the document.

However, Adaramodu dismissed the assertion, insisting that if any Senator had concerns about the procedure, such issues would have been formally presented before the Senate.

“If Senator Kingibe had anything against any procedure, she would report it on the floor of the Senate, not to an individual,” he said.

“But it is not even true, because I was part of the Ethics and Public Petitions Committee that listened to the matter.

“Nobody will say that he or she was coerced or somebody’s signature was forged; that has never happened in the Senate and it cannot happen. It has never happened.

“Senators are independent-minded people. We are mature men and women. And if you have any infraction against anybody, that person can, without any advocate from anywhere, that person will show it. So there’s nothing like that. I’m just hearing it for the first time. That’s very strange.”

Adaramodu also disclosed that the Senate would review Oshiomhole’s comments before deciding whether any action should be taken.

“We are going to review any statements made by him. The Senate will take a cursory look at either extraneous, spontaneous or intentional comments from any senator appropriately,” he said.

“We are going to look into it. We will take a stand and everyone will know where we stand. But we can say no senator has reported that his or her signature was forged during the Natasha matter.

“It was debated on the floor of the Senate openly at the plenary in the full glare of every Nigerian and even the international audience, and so nothing to hide.

“All Nigerians knew where we stood then on the issue of Natasha… that she ran afoul of the Senate’s orders. And we are orderly because we are bounded by orders of the Senate.”

Oshiomhole had alleged that at least three Senators privately informed him that they did not sign the report recommending Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension in 2025, despite their names appearing on the document.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senator representing Kogi Central, was suspended in March 2025 over allegations of gross misconduct and unruly behaviour following a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over sitting arrangement in the Red Chamber.