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Confusion Rocks Senate Over ‘Rules And Order’ In Handling Natasha’s Petition

Published

7 months ago

March 5, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday descended into confusion and chaos over Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio.

Natasha rose on Order 10 of the Senate Rules to allow her petition against Akpabio to be admitted and referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Natasha presented her petition against the Senate President after Akpabio earlier in his address declared that he had never harassed any woman in his life.

Senator Mohammed Monguno through Order 40, drew the attention of the chamber to the fact that the Nigerian Senate lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter as it has been taken to court.

Citing relevant ‘Orders and Rules’ guiding Senate proceedings, Monguno submitted that “the power to debate on the allegation of sexual harassment against Senator Godswill Akpabio has been taken away”.

He maintained that any attempt to debate on the matter would be subjudice and an affront to the powers of the court, maintaining that the court be allowed to adjudicate on the matter.

“Mr Senate President, distinguished colleagues, you are aware that the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Unoma Ekaete Akpabio and her family have gone to court against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan after she appeared on Arise Television on Thursday last week.

“This means this hallowed chamber cannot debate on the same matter as the chamber has been stopped,” he added.

Senate Leader, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi expressed sympathy with the Senate President to have allowed the petition to be referred to the Committee, saying that the ‘Rules and Order’ doesn’t allow a senator to sign a petition personally against the Senate leadership.

“The Senate erred to have admitted the petition as it is only the constituents that could have signed and forwarded the petition.

“It appeared Akpabio didn’t want the matter to look as if he was disallowing somebody from expressing her rights and hence allowed the error to be committed.

“I move that the chamber go into closed door (session),” Opeyemi said.

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NiMet Predicts Three-day Rain, Thunderstorms From Monday

Published

8 hours ago

September 21, 2025

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News

JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan

Published

13 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.

The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.

Details later…

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JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees

Published

13 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.

These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.

The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.

The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.

The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.

By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.

The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.

“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”

Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.

“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.

“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.

He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.

“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”

In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.

He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.

He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.

Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.

According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.

This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.