….Cites lack of notification
Senator Seriake Dickson, former governor of Bayelsa State, has faulted the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, Privileges, and Public Petitions for failing to notify him of an emergency hearing that led to the suspension of his colleague, Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Dickson, who was attending a critical 3-day workshop on Tax Reform Bills from March 5th to March 7th, disclosed that he had been assured by the Committee Chairman that the hearing on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension would take place on March 11th. However, an emergency session was held on March 7th without his knowledge, resulting in the approval of her suspension.
“I was not notified of the emergency seating yesterday,” Dickson stated, expressing his frustration.
“As a result of the strong views I had already canvassed, my colleagues and I were working on the Tax Reform Bills and were unable to join the plenary session that considered the report of the Ethics Committee.”
The suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has ignited controversy, with Dickson and other opposition senators questioning the transparency and fairness of the process.
In a move to show solidarity, Dickson led a delegation of opposition senators to visit Akpoti-Uduaghan and her husband at their home this evening.
During the visit, the senators offered words of encouragement, prayers, and advice on resolving the issues surrounding her suspension. Dickson stressed the importance of supporting colleagues during challenging times, stating, “Senators, as humans, have their low and high moments, and it is a tradition for Senators to support each other during these moments.”
Dickson also revealed that after hearing directly from Akpoti-Uduaghan and her husband, he plans to discuss with other colleagues on how to intervene and engage with the Senate leadership to resolve the matter swiftly.
SpearNews reported yesterday that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was handed a six-month suspension by the Senate, stripping her of all rights and privileges, including her security detail. The decision has sparked widespread condemnation from Nigerians and civil society organisations, who have criticized the move as excessive and unjust.
The incident has cast a spotlight on the operations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, with calls for greater transparency and accountability in its proceedings.
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