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Legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Monday Ubani, has called on Senator Natasha Akpoti to acknowledge her misstep and tender an apology following her recent outburst in the Senate chambers.
The senator was involved in a heated confrontation during a Senate session, raising concerns about decorum and parliamentary procedure. According to Dr. Ubani, her actions—marked by shouting and disrupting proceedings—were inappropriate and undermined the institution she represents.
While acknowledging the right of every senator, including that of Distinguished Senator Natasha to fair hearing and voicing out concerns, Ubani questioned whether Senator Natasha’s approach was the best course of action. He noted that Senate rules are designed to maintain order and dignity, and disregarding them in favor of disorderly conduct sets a dangerous precedent not only in the Senate Chambers but in every institution.
“If her new seating arrangement will genuinely obstruct her visibility in the Chambers as she alleged, was there no more civil and procedural way to address the issue?” Ubani asked. He further criticized her response in a subsequent interview with Berekete Family Radio, describing it as reflective of “an exaggerated sense of entitlement rather than a constructive pursuit of justice.”
Drawing a comparison to a similar incident involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio during the tenure of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Ubani recalled how Senator Akpabio, upon understanding the rationale for seat rearrangement, offered an apology to his colleagues. He contrasted this with Senator Natasha’s continued combative stance during and after, arguing that her approach demonstrated a lack of respect for Senate procedures.
Ubani warned that failing to adhere to parliamentary protocols could diminish her effectiveness as a lawmaker.
He advised the senator to reconsider her actions, embrace humility, and apologize to the Senate. “Those rallying behind her now may not stand with her in times of true need.
Dr Ubani further appeals to the leadership of the Senate not to apply her disciplinary process in addressing the current issue with Senator Natasha in order not to further escalate the present misunderstanding..
A word is enough for the wise,” he concluded.
The controversy surrounding Senator Natasha’s conduct continues to generate mixed reactions, with some defending her stance while others call for greater adherence to Senate rules and decorum.
