Senator Ireti Kingibe has denied approving or even seeing the committee report that recommended the suspension of Kogi Central lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, Kingibe said she was not present when the report was finalised and therefore had no opportunity to review or endorse it before it was submitted.
The Federal Capital Territory senator explained that she attended a meeting of the Senate committee handling the issue and only signed the attendance register before leaving for a tax reform retreat, which she said was more relevant to her constituents.
“I was not there. We went, myself and three or four other senators that were on that committee, we signed attendance and I left to go to the tax reform retreat because that affected my constituents more than disciplining a senator,” she said.
Kingibe maintained that although her signature appeared on a photocopy of the document, she never signed the actual report and had not seen its contents at any point.
“I couldn’t have endorsed the committee report, I didn’t see it,” she said.
She added that she raised concerns with Senate leadership after discovering the situation, noting that she discussed the matter with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and other colleagues.
Kingibe also questioned the Senate’s internal procedures, arguing that lawmakers should be given the opportunity to properly review committee reports before any form of endorsement is attached.
