A Senate committee hearing on ethics, privileges, and public petitions took a dramatic turn on Tuesday when a heated verbal exchange broke out between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi (Ebonyi North) and former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili.
The altercation occurred during deliberations on a fresh petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Present at the session were Ezekwesili, Abiola Akiode (legal counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan), and petitioner Zubairu Yakubu.
Tensions flared when Yakubu attempted to speak while Committee Chairman Neda Imaseun was addressing the panel. He was instructed to mute his microphone, prompting Ezekwesili to intervene. However, Nwaebonyi, appearing as a witness for Akpabio, interjected, leading to a sharp exchange.
“Compose yourself and stop making noise,” Ezekwesili told Nwaebonyi.
Angered by the remark, the senator retorted, “You’re a fool. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here.”
Ezekwesili fired back, calling him a “hooligan,” further escalating the confrontation and temporarily halting proceedings.
Following the disruption, order was restored, and Chairman Imaseun announced that the matter was now before a court, leading to an abrupt adjournment of the hearing.
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