A tense confrontation unfolded on Tuesday between Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the Senator representing Ebonyi North, and former Minister of Education during a Senate hearing. The altercation occurred during a session of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which was reviewing a fresh petition submitted by Natasha Akpot 
Ezekwesili was present alongside Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsel, and the chief petitioner from Kogi Central, Zubairu Yakubu. The trouble began when Yakubu requested that the Committee Chairman, Neda Imasuen, step down from the case. He argued that the chairman’s previous public comments on the sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio raised concerns about impartiality.
“How can the chairman serve as a judge in a case where he has already publicly taken a position? What is the point of presenting our case when a verdict has already been passed before hearing us?” Yakubu asked. He further alleged that certain committee members had ties to Akpabio, which could compromise their neutrality.
These comments sparked outrage among some lawmakers, who accused Yakubu of attempting to undermine the committee’s credibility. Ezekwesili also faced criticism for what some perceived as her attempt to insert herself into the proceedings. Despite the backlash, she insisted on having her voice heard, stating, “I asked to be put on oath as a witness. I am a citizen of Nigeria.”
This request triggered a heated exchange with Nwaebonyi, who lashed out at her. “You’re a fool. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here,” he said. Ezekwesili responded by calling him a “hooligan,” further escalating the altercation.
The verbal clash briefly disrupted the hearing, but order was eventually restored. Senator Patrick Ndubueze, representing Imo West, called for calm, addressing the committee. “We should stop behaving like people in the marketplace. This is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is sad to hear you (the petitioner) say you don’t have confidence in the Senate. What it means is that not everybody here is trustworthy,” he remarked.
Despite the attempts to restore order, Imasuen adjourned the hearing indefinitely. He noted that both Akpabio’s wife and Akpoti-Uduaghan had pending court cases, and the absence of the Kogi lawmaker to defend the allegations further complicated matters.
Following the adjournment, Ezekwesili addressed the media, condemning the Senate’s handling of the matter. She described the committee’s approach as a violation of the Nigerian Constitution and legal principles.
“The Nigerian Senate keeps telling citizens they are subject to Senate rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution. This is unacceptable in a democracy,” she said. Ezekwesili also criticized the Senate for placing its internal rules above the Constitution, citing the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan without regard for legal processes.
“The Senate must respect the Constitution. Otherwise, we risk turning our democracy into a system where powerful individuals manipulate processes to silence opposition and suppress justice,” she warned.
Ezekwesili concluded by calling for an independent body to review the matter, arguing that if a petitioner believes they will not receive a fair hearing due to bias, it is only just that the case be examined externally.
