A tense exchange unfolded on Tuesday during a Senate ethics and privileges committee hearing, involving Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North and former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili. The disagreement occurred while the committee was reviewing a new petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili, who attended the session with Abiola Akiode, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, and petitioner Zubairu Yakubu, became involved in the altercation when Yakubu attempted to speak while committee chairman Neda Imaseun was addressing the panel.
When Yakubu was instructed to mute his microphone, Ezekwesili intervened, leading Nwaebonyi, who was present as a witness for Akpabio, to sharply respond. The verbal clash escalated when Ezekwesili told Nwaebonyi, “Compose yourself and stop making noise.”
In retaliation, Nwaebonyi angrily responded, calling her a “fool” and accusing her of disrespecting him. “You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here,” he added. Ezekwesili fired back, calling him a “hooligan,” which briefly halted the proceedings.
Order was restored after the confrontation, and committee chairman Imaseun announced that the case was now before the court, leading to an adjournment of the hearing.
In a related development, the APGA Youth Wing issued an apology for comments made by one of their members regarding the incident, acknowledging that the remarks were inappropriate and uncalled for.
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