Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole has reversed his position regarding claims of signature forgery in the suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement, Oshiomhole clarified that his previous remarks during an interview on Africa Independent Television (AIT) were misrepresented by the public and the media.
“The insinuation that I said signatures of Senators were forged is a complete misrepresentation of what I actually said,” Oshiomhole noted.
He explained that he never claimed any lawmaker’s signature was forged to pass the committee’s report recommending Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. Instead, the former governor stated that he was merely referencing a comment made by a member of the committee who claimed that the attendance signatures of some senators were attached to the final report document.
Oshiomhole expressed full agreement with Senate Spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu.
“I agree absolutely with the spokesperson of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Yemi Adaramodu, that no signature of Senators was forged in Natasha Akpoti’s suspension. This is because, no Senator complained to me that his or her signature was forged. The only comment I made is that one Senator, who is a member of the Committee “claimed” that the signatures of attendance of some Senators were attached to the final report. Any suggestion to the effect that I alleged that any Senator’s signature was forged is completely untrue and should be disregarded.”
Senate Spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu had in reaction to Oshiomole’s claim on Tuesday clarified that no lawmaker has raised any formal complaint about forged signatures or procedural irregularities regarding the report.
Adaramodu, who was a member of the committee that investigated the matter, maintained that Senators are mature and independent-minded individuals who would raise objections on the floor of the Senate if their rights were violated.
Meanwhile, Oshiomole has emphasized that the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has been put to rest and that the upper legislative chamber has moved past the issue.
“As far as I am concerned, the issue of suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been put to rest and the Senate has since moved on. The context in which I made a comment on the Senator Natasha Akpoti’s issue was the AIT interviewer’s claim that Senate Leader Distinguished Senator Bamidele Opeyemi referred to the matter as the “lowest point of the 3 years of the 10th Senate” to which I replied that “if indeed the Senate Leader said so, yes it should be taken seriously, because he is not given to frivolities””
He added, “Once again, I emphasise that no Senator told me that his or her signature was forged.”