By Jane Okafor, Abuja
ABUJA: Senator Seriake Dickson has disclosed that he was not aware of the emergency sitting of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee because he was attending a 3 day workshop on the Tax Reform Bill which started Wednesday 5th of March and ended on the evening of Friday 7 March.
The Daily Crucible reports the Senate had on March 6 suspended Natasha Akpoti for six months, and also withdrew her allowances based on the recommendations of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.
He made the statement on his Facebook page shortly after he led members of the opposition lawmakers on a visit to their suspended colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan on Friday 7 March at her residence in Abuja.
He said he was not available to sit as a member of the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, Privileges, and Public Petitions regarding issues concerning their colleague, Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s suspension since he was not notified of the emergency sitting of the committee.
The Senator representing Bayelsa
West said he had been assured by the Committee Chairman that the hearing would be on Wednesday, March 11, for which notices had already been issued.
Due to the strong views he had already expressed on the Tax Reform Bills, Senator Dickson and his colleagues worked on the bill , and as a result, was unable to join the plenary session that considered the report of the ethics committee that deliberated on and approved the suspension.
He said during the visit they offered words of encouragement, prayers, and advice on a quick resolution of the issues surrounding her suspension, after hearing from Senator Natasha Uduaghan and her husband for the first time.
The Senator emphasized that they would discuss with their other colleagues on how to intervene and engage with the leadership of the Senate to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.
Senator Dickson stated, “The public may recall that, for the past 3 days, I was attending the 3 day workshop on the Tax Reform Bills which started on Wednesday 5th of March and ended this evening, Friday 7th of March. This is why I was not available yesterday to sit as a member of the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of the issues concerning our colleague Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s suspension, haven been assured by the Committee Chairman that the hearing would hold on Wednesday the 11th of March for which notices had already been issued. I was not notified of the emergency seating yesterday.
“As a result of the strong views I had already canvassed, my colleagues and I were working on the Tax Reform Bills yesterday and as such was unable to join the plenary sitting which considered the report of the Ethics Committee that deliberated and approved the suspension.
“This evening after concluding the retreat, I led a delegation of some senators of opposition parties on a visit to our colleague Senator Natasha and met with her and her husband at their home.
“Senators as humans, have their low and high moments and it is a tradition for Senators to support each other during these moments.
“We offered words of encouragement, prayers and advice on a quick resolution of the issues surrounding her suspension. Having heard more from her and her husband for the first time, I will discuss with other colleagues on how to intervene and engage with the leadership of the senate to resolve the issues as soon as possible.”
