A heated confrontation broke out at a Senate hearing on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili.
The verbal clash occurred during a session of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which was reviewing a new petition submitted by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ezekwesili attended the hearing alongside Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the legal counsel for Akpoti-Uduaghan, and the chief petitioner, Zubairu Yakubu, from Kogi Central.
The tension escalated when Yakubu questioned the neutrality of the committee chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen. He argued that Imasuen had already shown bias in handling an allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“How can the chairman serve as a judge in a case where he has already publicly taken a position? What is the need for us to present our case when a verdict has already been given before hearing us?” Yakubu asked.
He also claimed that some committee members had personal connections with Akpabio, which could influence their judgment. His comments angered several senators, who accused him of trying to discredit the committee.
Ezekwesili also faced pushback from lawmakers, who felt she was insisting on having a say in the proceedings. However, she stood her ground, stating, “I asked to be put on oath as a witness. I am a citizen of Nigeria.”
At that point, the discussion took a turn for the worse when Senator Nwaebonyi lashed out at Ezekwesili, calling her a “fool” and saying, “You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here.” Ezekwesili responded by calling him a “hooligan,” which further escalated the situation. The argument disrupted the hearing until order was eventually restored.
In an attempt to calm the situation, Senator Patrick Ndubueze from Imo West reminded everyone of the importance of maintaining decorum. He urged both sides to respect Senate procedures, saying, “We should stop behaving like people in the marketplace. This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is sad to hear you (petitioner) say you don’t have confidence in the Senate. What it means is that not everybody here is trustworthy.”
Following the heated exchange, Imasuen decided to adjourn the hearing indefinitely. He noted that both Akpabio’s wife and Akpoti-Uduaghan were involved in an ongoing legal case and that the absence of the Kogi lawmaker further complicated matters.
Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Ezekwesili strongly criticized the Senate’s handling of petitions and disciplinary matters. She said the committee was placing Senate rules above constitutional provisions, which she saw as a violation of democratic principles.
“The Nigerian Senate keeps telling citizens they are subject to Senate rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution. This is unacceptable in a democracy,” she stated.
She also pointed to the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying it was done without proper constitutional backing.
“The Senate placed its own rules above the laws of the land. Now, with this petitioner, they have done the same thing—using procedural loopholes to avoid addressing critical issues,” she added.
Ezekwesili further warned that if such practices continued, the Senate could set a precedent where internal regulations overshadow constitutional law, ultimately weakening Nigeria’s democracy.
“The Senate must respect the Constitution. Otherwise, we risk turning our democracy into a system where powerful individuals manipulate processes to silence opposition and suppress justice,” she said.
