Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the federal capital territory (FCT), says she never saw the report that recommended the six-month suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central.
Kingibe spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television.
Her comments come days after Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, alleged that the signatures of at least three lawmakers were forged or improperly included on the report that led to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
Responding to questions about the report, Kingibe said she was not present when it was prepared.
“I did tell everybody that I was not there,” she said.
Kingibe explained that she attended a tax reform retreat at the time the committee was handling the matter.
She said she and other members of the committee signed the attendance register before leaving for the retreat.
“When I heard about the report, I said, but we were here,” she said.
“We went, myself and three or four other senators that were on that committee. We went to the committee of petitions and public complaints and we signed attendance.”
However, the FCT senator said she left shortly afterwards because she considered the tax reform discussions more important to her constituents.
“I left to go to the tax reform retreat because that I felt was much more important,” she said.
“It affects my constituents much more than disciplining a senator.”
Kingibe said she expected other members of the committee to handle the matter in her absence.
“I figured that the other people who were not part of that committee would take care of it,” she said.
COMPLAINTS
Furthermore, the senator said she complained to colleagues after learning that a report had been produced without her knowledge.
She specifically mentioned Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia south.
“I even complained to other senators, specifically Senator Abaribe,” she said.
“I complained to him very bitterly that I have not seen that report.”
Kingibe said she neither saw the report before it was adopted nor afterwards.
“I didn’t see it then,” she said.
“I have not seen it till now.”
