A heated exchange erupted at the Senate on Tuesday during a hearing by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions over a petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The confrontation occurred between former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, and Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, disrupting the proceedings. Ezekwesili was present at the hearing alongside Abiola Akiode, counsel to Senator Natasha, and petitioner, Zubairu Yakubu.
Tensions flared when Yakubu attempted to speak while the committee chairman, Neda Imaseun, was addressing the panel. He was instructed to mute his microphone, prompting Ezekwesili to intervene. However, Senator Nwebonyi, a witness for Akpabio, interjected, leading to a heated exchange between him and the former minister.
Ezekwesili urged the senator to remain composed, which triggered an angry response from Nwebonyi, who accused her of being disrespectful. The verbal clash briefly disrupted the hearing before order was restored.
Following the altercation, Imaseun ruled that the matter was already before a court and, therefore, outside the Senate’s jurisdiction. “This matter is closed here at the Senate and is adjourned sine die,” he declared.
