There was mild drama in the Senate on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole clashed over the controversial abortion clause in the Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Earlier in the plenary, the Senate unanimously passed a landmark bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor, without the option of a fine. The upper chamber said the stiffer penalty was necessary to deter offenders and protect children from sexual abuse, describing it as “a grievous crime capable of destroying a child’s life forever.”
The bill, which originated from the House of Representatives, seeks to overhaul several provisions of Nigeria’s criminal code to reflect contemporary realities. Lawmakers unanimously approved the life sentence clause for the offence of defilement, which previously carried a maximum penalty of five years.
Presiding over the session, Senate President Akpabio said, “Defilement is even more serious than rape. It is a very serious issue and should carry the most severe punishment. Any defilement of a minor in Nigeria henceforth attracts life imprisonment. Let everyone be aware.”
The Senate also approved an increase in penalties for rape and other forms of forced sexual intercourse, regardless of gender, to a minimum of ten years’ imprisonment. According to the new proposal, Clause 2(1) states:
“Any person who detains a man or boy, a girl or a woman against his or her will in any premises in order to have unlawful carnal knowledge of him or her, in a brothel or any place, commits a felony and attracts a minimum jail term of ten years upon conviction.”
However, after heated deliberations on the abortion clause—owing to its religious and moral implications—the Senate stepped down further consideration of the bill. It was referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights for further review and is expected to be revisited within two weeks.
Akpabio, Natasha, and Oshiomhole in Heated Exchange
Tension erupted when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) attempted to reopen debate on the abortion clause after the bill had already been withdrawn. “Mr. Senate President, may I speak? I am a woman. Abortion has to do with women,” she began.
Senate President Akpabio declined her request, insisting the motion had been stepped down “in totality,” and directed proceedings to continue to the next clause. Moments later, he called on Senator Natasha again, saying, “Distinguished Senator, the matter has been stepped down, but if you have anything to add, you can.”
As she began to speak, emphasizing her concerns about the abortion clause, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) raised a point of order, arguing that parliamentary rules forbid revisiting matters that have already been ruled upon.
“If a matter has been stepped down and ruled on, it is out of order to reopen it,” Oshiomhole stated, urging his colleague to respect Senate rules.
In response, Akpabio upheld Oshiomhole’s point, saying, “I’m not a spirit to know what she wanted to say,” but reaffirmed that once a ruling is made, it cannot be revisited. He subsequently ruled Senator Natasha out of order.
This is not the first time the Kogi lawmaker has clashed with Senate leadership. Earlier in March, she was suspended for allegedly violating Senate standing rules—a decision that sparked outrage from civil society groups and opposition figures.
Although she challenged her suspension in court, she failed to secure a reinstatement order. After completing her six-month suspension in September, Senator Natasha wrote to the Senate expressing her intention to resume. Her office was eventually reopened on September 23, and she formally returned to plenary on October 7 when the Senate reconvened after its ten-month recess.
