Drama as Akpabio, Natasha, Oshiomole clash over ‘abortion bill’

There was mild drama in the Senate on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole clashed over the controversial abortion clause in the Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Earlier during the session, the Senate had unanimously passed a landmark bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor, with no option of a fine.

The upper chamber said the stiffer penalty was necessary to deter offenders and protect children from sexual abuse, which it described as “a grievous crime capable of destroying a child’s life forever”.

The bill, which originated from the House of Representatives and was sent to the Senate for concurrence, seeks to overhaul several provisions of the nation’s criminal code to address contemporary realities.

During plenary, lawmakers unanimously voted to approve the life sentence clause for the offence of defilement, which currently carries a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, said: “Defilement is even more serious than rape.

“It is a very serious issue and should carry the most severe punishment. Any defilement of a minor in Nigeria henceforth attracts life imprisonment. Let everyone be aware.”

The Senate also increased the penalty for rape and other forms of forced sexual intercourse, whether involving male or female victims, to a minimum of 10 years in prison.

In the new proposal, Clause 2(1), reads, “Any person who detains a man or boy, a girl or a woman against his or her will in any premises in order to have unlawful canal knowledge of him or her; in a brothel or any place, commits a felony and attracts a minimum jail term of 10 years, on conviction.”

After intense discussions and consideration of an abortion clause owing to the religious implications, citing the need for more clarity on some provisions, the Senate eventually stepped down further consideration of the bill, referring it to the senate committee on Judiciary and human rights for further consideration to report back in two weeks.

Akpabio, Natasha, Oshiomole clash

However, tension arose when Natasha, the senator representing Kogi Central, attempted to reopen the debate on a controversial clause after the bill had already been withdrawn. “Mr. Senate President, may I speak? I am a woman. Abortion has to do with women,” she began.

Akpabio, however, declined her request, insisting that the motion had already been stepped down “in totality.” He directed the chamber to proceed to the next clause.

Moments later, Akpabio called on Senator Natasha several times, saying, “Distinguished Senator, the matter has been stepped down, but if you have anything to add, you can.”

As she began to speak, emphasizing that her concern bordered on the abortion clause, the senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, interrupted, raising a point of order. 

He argued that parliamentary rules forbid revisiting issues that have already been ruled upon.

“If a matter has been stepped down and ruled on, it is out of order to reopen it,” Oshiomhole stated, urging his colleague to respect the rules.

In his response, Akpabio upheld Oshiomhole’s point, noting, “I’m not a spirit to know what she wanted to say,” but reaffirmed that Senate procedure does not allow discussions on a matter once a ruling has been made. He subsequently ruled Senator Natasha out of order.

This is coming barely two weeks after Natasha returned to the Senate after a six-month suspension.

She was suspended in March for allegedly violating the Senate’s standing rules,  a move that drew sharp criticism from civil society groups and opposition politicians, though the Senate defended its decision.

The PDP lawmaker later took the matter to court in July but was unable to secure a return order. After completing her six-month suspension in September, she formally wrote to the Senate expressing her intention to resume.

The Senate, on September 23, unsealed her office, which had been under lock for six months, which later allowed her to resume on October 7, when the Senate resumed plenary after a 10-month recess.

Do you think the heated argument is connected to the earlier clash between Akpabio and Natasha? Let’s know your views in the comment section.