Senator Ireti Kingibe has said she did not review the committee report that informed the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
She spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television’s *Prime Time*, where she explained that she was away at a tax reform retreat when the report was handled.
“I never saw the report that led to Natasha’s suspension. I was at a retreat,” she said.
Kingibe said she had attended a session of the Senate Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints and signed the attendance register before leaving for the retreat.
“I had earlier stated that I was there with three or four other senators who are members of the committee. We attended the Committee on Petitions and Public Complaints, signed the attendance register, and I later left for the tax reform retreat, which I considered more important at the time,” she said.
She added that the retreat took priority due to its relevance to constituency concerns.
“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator, and I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it,” she said.
Kingibe further disclosed that she had raised concerns over her inability to access the document with colleagues.
“I even complained to other senators, specifically to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. I complained to him very bitterly that I had not seen that report. I didn’t see it then. I have not seen it till now,” she said.
The suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan followed recommendations from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions earlier this year, a decision that has continued to draw political attention.
