ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Senate has said it will review allegations of signature forgery raised by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a member representing Edo North, concerning the report that led to the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.
Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, speaking in an interview with The Cable, said the upper chamber would examine comments made by Oshiomhole regarding the disputed committee report, stressing that the Senate would take appropriate steps on any such claims.
According to him, the Senate would “take a cursory look at either extraneous, spontaneous or intentional comments from any senator appropriately,” adding that a position would be taken after review.
Oshiomhole had alleged that the names of at least three senators were improperly included on the committee report recommending Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
He further claimed that some lawmakers whose names appeared on the document told him they neither signed nor endorsed the report.
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However, Adaramodu dismissed the suggestion of forgery within the chamber, insisting that no senator had officially reported that their signature was falsified in relation to the Natasha suspension matter.
He maintained that the process was transparent, noting that the issue was debated on the floor of the Senate “in the full glare of every Nigerian and even the international audience,” adding that there was nothing to conceal.
The Senate spokesperson also rejected claims of coercion or manipulation among lawmakers, stressing that senators are independent-minded and capable of raising complaints without external prompting if any wrongdoing occurred.
He further stated that no such allegation had been formally brought before the Senate and described the forgery claim as strange, insisting that nothing of that nature has ever happened in the chamber.
The controversy follows earlier reports indicating that Oshiomhole had raised concerns over the integrity of the committee report that recommended Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.