A heated exchange erupted between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi and former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili during a Senate hearing on a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The confrontation, which occurred at the National Assembly, has sparked widespread criticism, as many believe such behavior is unbefitting of national leaders.
The altercation took place during a session of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions.
The hearing was set to address allegations of sexual harassment filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
However, tensions flared when petitioner Zubairu Yakubu attempted to speak while Committee Chairman Neda Imasuen was addressing the room.
Yakubu was asked to mute his microphone, but when Ezekwesili tried to intervene, Senator Nwaebonyi abruptly cut her off.
Annoyed by his interruption, Ezekwesili firmly rebuked him, saying, “Comport yourself and stop making noise.”
Her remark, however, provoked an immediate reaction from Nwaebonyi, who angrily responded,
“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.”
The exchange escalated further when Ezekwesili retaliated by calling him a “hooligan,” causing a brief disruption in the hearing.
Despite efforts to restore order, the atmosphere remained tense.
Meanwhile, Chairman Imasuen later announced that the case was already in court, leading to an abrupt adjournment of the session.
The public outcry following the incident has been immense, with many Nigerians criticizing the lack of decorum displayed by the leaders involved.
Furthermore, many believe that the focus should have remained on addressing the sexual harassment allegations rather than allowing personal altercations to overshadow the hearing.
