Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, has given her account of the altercation with Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the lawmaker representing Ebonyi North, during a Senate Ethics Committee hearing.
Earlier on Tuesday, the two politicians clashed during the Senate panel’s hearing on a fresh petition submitted by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senator representing Kogi Central.
Tensions flared when the former minister told Nwaebonyi, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, to “shut up” during the proceedings.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Ezekwesili explained that the Senate panel had stated the case was sub judice as it was already before the court.
“The petitioner insisted he would not proceed with his main petition until his two objections were addressed,” she said. “However, the panel interpreted this as reluctance on our part to engage with the matter.”
“Then, they abruptly argued that the case was sub judice due to two related court cases—one filed by the Senate President’s wife—and suggested proceedings should halt. At that point, Dr. Abiola questioned the very purpose of convening the hearing.”
“While this was unfolding, a certain senator—whose name I shall not dignify—interjected, claiming to represent the Senate President, the respondent. He asserted that since we refused to testify, he was prepared to speak on behalf of the Senate President, insisting the hearing could not continue in this manner.”
“I responded, ‘Can you please shut up?’—because we had just been told we were barred from speaking, yet he was freely expressing his views without restraint.”
“The panel had silenced us on the grounds that we were unwilling to proceed without addressing our objections first. My remark further provoked the senator, though he was already visibly agitated. His anger seemed rooted in the perception that we were not treating the matter with due seriousness.”
Ezekwesili added that Nwaebonyi’s reaction exemplified the “undignified conduct” of some Nigerian public officials.
The Ebonyi lawmaker had earlier criticised the former minister for calling him a “hooligan” and ordering a serving senator to “shut up.”
However, the Deputy Chief Whip stated he had no regrets about the incident and still respects Ezekwesili as a woman, despite the exchange.
