“You Are an Insult to Womanhood!” – Nwaebonyi and Ezekwesili in War of Words

At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions on the fresh petition submitted by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi and Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, traded insulting words.

The Senate Committee had convened to deliberate on the sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension imposed on her by the Upper Chamber.

However, tension at the committee hearing escalated after Suberu Yakubu, a petitioner from Kogi Central, accused the committee’s senators of being biased regarding the allegation against the Senate President. He particularly asked Senator Neda Imasuen to step down as Chairman of the committee.

“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 said.

Also Read: Why INEC Faulted the Petition to Recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan

As Yakubu was asked to turn off his mic, Oby Ezekwesili, who appeared as a witness, tried to intervene, but she was interrupted by Nwaebonyi—who appeared as a witness for Akpabio.

“Compose yourself and stop making noise,” Ezekwesili told Nwaebonyi, who became enraged by the statement.

“Don’t insult me. And you are even telling me to keep my mouth shut? Who are you? You must be a fool—a fool at 70. That is what you are,” Nwaebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North, shouted back.

“What do you mean? You are an insult to womanhood. A fool like you can never be here. Who are you?” he added.

Ezekwesili, who addressed journalists after the hearing was suspended indefinitely—following ongoing court cases involving both Akpabio’s wife and Akpoti-Uduaghan—claimed that the Senate’s approach was a gross violation of the Nigerian Constitution.

“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,” Ezekwesili said.