Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili has refused to acknowledge Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi by name following their heated exchange at a Senate Ethics Committee hearing. The clash erupted over a petition by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, with both figures trading accusations. The confrontation has fueled national debates on decorum.
The heated exchange between former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili and Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi has taken a new turn. Ezekwesili has refused to acknowledge the lawmaker by name while recounting the altercation. The confrontation erupted during a Senate Ethics Committee hearing on a petition that suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted. Tensions peaked when Ezekwesili, frustrated by the proceedings, told Nwaebonyi to "shut up" after he attempted to speak on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Ezekwesili criticized the handling of the hearing, arguing that the panel contradicted itself by declaring the case sub judice while still allowing Nwaebonyi to speak. She maintained that her remark was a reaction to what she viewed as an unfair advantage given to the senator. Meanwhile, Nwaebonyi, who had called Ezekwesili a "hooligan" during the hearing, insisted he had no regrets about his response and reaffirmed his respect for her despite their disagreement.
