Abuse Of Office: Kogi Central Constituents Petition Akpabio, Bamidele, Imasuen To CCB
ABUJA/Nigeria: The Forum of Aggrieved Constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District has lodged a formal petition with the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
The petition, signed by over 70 constituents from Kogi Central, was submitted pursuant to paragraph 12 of the Fifth Schedule (Part 1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended). The petitioners specifically urged CCB Chairman Hassan Musa to invoke the provisions of paragraph 9 of the Fifth Schedule, which prohibits public officers from engaging in arbitrary actions that violate the rights of others.
According to the petitioners, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, had secured an interim injunction from the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining Senator Imasuen from proceeding with a planned investigation against her over alleged misconduct during the Senate plenary on February 20, 2025. However, despite being served with the court order, Senator Imasuen allegedly disregarded it, insisting that no court could interfere with Senate proceedings. The petitioners argued that this position contradicted Section 4(8) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that legislative powers are subject to judicial review.
The forum expressed shock that, in defiance of the court’s directive, Senator Imasuen proceeded with the Ethics Committee’s proceedings, violating an extant order in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025. They further alleged that Senator Imasuen, having initially scheduled a hearing for March 11, 2025, abruptly moved it forward to March 5 without notifying Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. On the same day, he reportedly sent a fresh invitation letter to the Senator and, within 24 hours, drafted a report recommending her six-month suspension—despite Senate Rules limiting such suspensions to 14 legislative days under Order 67(4).
During the Senate’s consideration of the report, the petitioners accused Senate President Akpabio of presiding over its adoption despite being aware of the restraining order. Similarly, they criticized Senate Leader Bamidele for endorsing the report despite its legal and procedural inconsistencies, noting that he, as a member of the Body of Benchers, should have upheld legal propriety.
The petitioners insisted that the actions of Akpabio, Bamidele, and Imasuen not only constituted an abuse of office but also violated their oaths to uphold the Constitution and Senate Rules. They contended that the senators’ conduct unfairly deprived Kogi Central constituents of their elected representative’s participation in the Senate.
They further decried the consequences of the suspension, including Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s exclusion from Senate activities, loss of financial entitlements, withdrawal of security details, and an alleged directive barring her from identifying as a Senator.
The petitioners concluded that by orchestrating what they described as an unlawful suspension, Akpabio, Bamidele, and Imasuen had violated paragraph 9 of the Fifth Schedule (Part 1) of the 1999 Constitution and should be held accountable.
