For the second time in the last few weeks, the Nigerian Senate on Thursday passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

This comes after Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele under Orders 40 and 51, moved a motion on the recent controversy surrounding the upper chamber, underscoring the need for clarity, adherence to legislative rules and a renewed focus on governance.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central was suspended by the Senate following following alleged gross misconduct and and disobedient to Senate rules.

She tagged her suspension as an injustice, reporting the matter to the United Nation’s Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Tuesday.

The Senate, however, responded to her complaint to the IPU on Wednesday, telling the international body that Senator Natasha’s suspension has nothing to do with her sexual abuse allegation against Akpbaio, but for gross misconduct and disobedient to Senate rules.

Speaking on the floor of the Senate , Senator Bamidele acknowledged heightened public interest in the matter due to allegations made by a fellow senator.

However, he maintained that at no point between August 2023 and the present was the Senate informed of any sexual harassment claims, adding that the issue at hand was purely about disciplinary measures related to breaches of Senate rules.

According to him, “I want to make it clear that the matter referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges had nothing to do with sexual harassment. The Senate President did not preside over any case related to such allegations. What was addressed was a flagrant disregard for Senate rules and we followed due process as guided by the Constitution”.

He further defended the Senate’s authority to regulate its proceedings, including the decision to suspend a senator, stating that such actions were necessary to maintain order and uphold legislative integrity.

He refuted claims that the Senate acted beyond its constitutional rights, noting that suspension remains the only alternative to anarchy within the chamber.

“It was never an issue before us that any member of us was sexually harassed and we hold on to that point. We need to put the events of the last two weeks and concentrate. There is work before us and we have done everything possible, ensuring that the electoral reforms and others have legislative expressions.”

Regarding international reactions, he further clarifies that the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) acted within its own rules, and that any statements made by the Senator in question at the IPU meeting were done in a personal capacity, not as a designated delegate representing Nigeria.

“It was never an issue before us that any senator was sexually harassed. We need to move past the events of the last two weeks and focus on our legislative responsibilities. There is critical work before us, including electoral reforms, economic recovery, and tax reform bills.

“The 7th schedule of the 1999 Constitution is clear, and we all swore by oath that we will make laws for the good of this country. We swore to that oath and ensured everyone abides by that oath”.

The Senate leader also addressed the Civil Society Organizations, noting that Nigeria is making progress but still faces significant challenges. He urged the public to be objective in their analysis and to reserve their energy for genuine cases of sexual harassment.

“We have heard you, but we need to concentrate in our work, so if we choose to be silent on this matter going forward, know that it is intentional on our part. Please be objective in your analysis and save energy for those genuine victims of sexual harassment”.

To conclude, the Senate passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, commending the way the matter was handled.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over Thursday’s plenary session, noted that with the budget which has now passed demands that the legislature focus on its oversight functions.

He reiterated that the matter is now before the courts, and as such, the Senate should allow the legal system to take its course.

*****Seeks strategic collaboration with police, DSS, EFCC

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed that the number of prisoners on death row had risen from 3,590 in September 2024 to 3,688 in March 2025, representing a 2.73 percent increase or 98 prisoners within six months.

The NCoS also sought strategic collaboration with the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS); Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to speed up the wheel of justice in the country.

The Acting Controller-General of NCoS), Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche revealed the figure yesterday while the Senate Committee on Interior chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole was screening him for the position of substantive controller-general.

Nwakuche was accompanied by his Principal Staff Officer, Mr. Godwin Okosun; Deputy Controller of Corrections of NCoS, Mr. Babatunde Ogundare; Acting Controller-General of NCoS, Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche; and Assistant Controller General of NCoS, Mr. Ahmed Adagiri, among others, to the screening exercise yesterday.

Responding to questions at the screening with facts and figures yesterday, Nwakuche disclosed that no fewer than 3688 inmates are currently on death row in the country compared to 3,590 recorded in September 2024.

He explained the major challenges facing the correctional service in the country, revealing that the majority of inmates “are currently awaiting trials. That is our major headache we are trying to address on a daily basis.

The acting comptroller-general said: “Inmates on death row are now 3688 from 3,590 in September 2024. State governors are part of our challenges. They refuse to execute inmates on the death row; neither do they commute their death sentence to life imprisonment.

“If they commute death sentences to life imprisonment, it is easier for us to distribute them to rural correctional facilities which are not as congested as those in urban correctional facilities.

“This is because the issue of congestion is a major urban phenomenon. Our correctional facilities in urban centres are more congested than those in rural areas. If we commute them to life sentencing, we will be able to distribute them equitably,” the acting comptroller-general.

The acting comptroller-general pledged to collaborate with other security agencies more strategically to ensure that the issues of awaiting trials are permanently resolved so that the prison can be decongested.

He further emphasised collaboration and synergy specifically with the Nigeria Police, EFCC, DSS and ICPC, among others, to decisively address the challenge of awaiting trials in all the correctional facilities nationwide.

“This is very important for any establishment to forge ahead. An establishment like correctional centres cannot do anything without collaboration. We are the one at the recipient of the products of all the prosecuting agencies,” the acting comptroller-general.

According to him, the Nigeria Police, EFCC, DSS, Nigeria Custom Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and ICPC will bring all these products to our doorpost. They expect to turn around and push them into society and be law-abiding citizens. If we must meet this expectation, we need to collaborate more meaningfully.

He lamented that the dispensation of justice system “is very slow. When I met with the Inspector-General of Police, I said some of your inmates are in our facilities. They have stayed up to five or six years. Some of them are not needed to be in our facilities any longer.

“If they have been sentenced, some of them will not spend up to two to three years in prisons. But they have stayed in our facilities for six years. For me, such persons should be discharged and acquitted. That is one area we must collaborate to decongest our facilities..

“I also met the Director-General of DSS on the need for collaboration. I met the Attorney-General of the Federation for the same reason. Some of the inmates are waiting for the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution. If we do not reach out to these agencies, our people will continue to be in prisons unnecessarily.”

In his remarks, Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Adams Oshiomhole said the committee would submit its report based on the performance of the Acting Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has responded to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal regarding her suspension from the Nigerian Senate. The IPU, through its President Tulia Ackson, assured that it would take necessary steps after hearing both sides of the issue.

This statement came after Akpoti-Uduaghan presented her case at the IPU meeting in New York, alleging political victimization and unlawful suspension following her sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Senator Natasha’s Allegations: She claimed her suspension on March 6, 2025, was a retaliation for filing a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio. She described stringent conditions imposed on her, including withdrawal of security, salary cuts, and a ban from the National Assembly for six months

IPU’s Position: Ackson emphasized that the IPU would listen to all parties involved before taking action. She acknowledged Natasha’s concerns but stressed the need for procedural fairness by hearing Akpabio’s side as well.