The Senate has said it will examine comments made by Senator Adams Oshiomhole regarding the Natasha suspension forgery allegation, following claims that some lawmakers were listed on a committee report without their approval. Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu said the upper chamber would review the matter and communicate its position after due consideration.
The controversy emerged after Senator Adams Oshiomhole alleged that the names of at least three senators appeared on the Senate Committee report that recommended the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, despite claims that they neither signed nor endorsed the document. Reacting to the Natasha suspension forgery allegation, Adaramodu said the Senate would evaluate any statement made by its members and determine the appropriate response.
“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 stated.
According to the Senate spokesperson, no senator has formally reported that his or her signature was forged in connection with the report that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. He stressed that the issue was openly debated during plenary and conducted in full public view.
“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,” Adaramodu said. He further noted that the suspension process followed established Senate procedures and was carried out transparently.
Addressing concerns raised by the Natasha suspension forgery allegation, Adaramodu defended the independence of senators and rejected suggestions that lawmakers could be coerced into supporting committee recommendations. He maintained that senators are capable of raising objections whenever they believe their rights or privileges have been violated.
“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,” he said. The Senate spokesperson added that any senator who believes an infraction has occurred has the freedom to raise the matter directly before the chamber.
While the Senate has not reached a final position on Oshiomhole’s remarks, it has confirmed that the suspension forgery allegation will be reviewed. The development adds a fresh dimension to the debate surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, with lawmakers expected to clarify the Senate’s official stance after examining the claims.
