Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate, has stated that she was never shown the report that resulted in the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Kogi Central.
In an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ program on Wednesday, Kingibe explained that she was away at a retreat when the report was being considered.
She noted that she had been at a retreat alongside Senator Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North when news of the report broke.
“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was attending a retreat. I had earlier mentioned that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee,” she said.
“We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and later I left for the tax reform retreat, which I deemed more important at the time.”
Kingibe emphasized that the tax reform matters directly impact her constituents more than disciplining a fellow senator, so she chose to focus on that.
“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I assumed the other individuals not on that committee would handle it,” she added.
She revealed that she expressed her frustration to other senators, particularly Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. “I complained to him bitterly that I had not laid eyes on that report. I didn’t see it then, and I haven’t seen it until now,” Kingibe stated.