Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC–Edo) has clarified that he never alleged that signatures were forged in the process leading to the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP–Kogi Central) by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said his comments during an appearance on AIT’s Politics Today were misrepresented, which created the impression that he accused some senators of forgery.
“My remarks during an appearance on AIT’s Politics Today were misrepresented, leading to the false impression that I accused some senators of forging signatures,” he said.
He added: “The insinuation that I said signatures of senators were forged is a complete misrepresentation of what I actually said.”
The former Edo State governor further stated that he agreed with the Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC–Ekiti), that no senator’s signature was forged in the course
of the suspension process.
According to him, no senator had personally approached him with any complaint regarding forged signatures.
“The only comment I made is that one senator, who is a member of the committee, claimed that the signatures of attendance of some senators were attached to the final report,” he explained.
He maintained that any suggestion that he accused lawmakers of forgery was incorrect and should be disregarded.
“Any suggestion to the effect that I alleged that any senator’s signature was forged is completely untrue and should be disregarded,” he said.
Oshiomhole also noted that the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension had already been resolved, adding that the Senate had moved on from the matter.
He said his comments came during a discussion on remarks made by the programme host, who referenced Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele’s alleged description of the incident as “the lowest point of the three years of the 10th Senate.”
Responding, Oshiomhole said that if the Senate Leader truly made such a statement, it should be taken seriously, noting that Bamidele was “not given to frivolities.”
He reiterated that no senator had informed him of any forged signature and expressed regret over any misunderstanding arising from his comments.
“Finally, I regret if my comments may have caused embarrassment to any senator or the 10th Senate as an institution,” he said.
