A heated exchange occurred in the Senate on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) clashed during debate on the Criminal Code Amendment Bill.
The bill, presented for concurrence by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, proposes a 10-year jail term without the option of a fine for anyone who supplies drugs or instruments used in carrying out abortions, up from the current three-year sentence.
According to its sponsors, the amendment seeks to align the Criminal Code Act with Nigeria’s “evolving social, moral and medical realities.”
During the debate, lawmakers disagreed over what constitutes an unlawful abortion.
Senator Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) argued that abortion could sometimes be justified on medical or religious grounds, warning against blanket criminalisation.
Similarly, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) expressed fear that the bill could discourage doctors from offering essential medical advice or life-saving interventions.
He urged the Senate to step down the bill for wider consultations “to avoid endangering lives.”
In response, Senate President Akpabio suspended further deliberation on the bill and referred it to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
“The committee should review the contentious sections and report back within two weeks,” Akpabio ruled.
The motion to suspend was adopted through a voice vote.
Natasha’s Attempt To Speak Blocked
Moments after Akpabio’s ruling, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan raised her hand, appealing to contribute.
“Mr Senate President, please may I speak? I am a woman, as abortion has to do with women. It is very important, sir,” she said.
Akpabio, however, insisted that the matter had been “stepped down in totality.”
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) then raised a point of order, cautioning that allowing her to speak after the gavel had dropped would breach Senate rules.
“If you grant the exemption to distinguished Senator Natasha, then you must extend the same exemption to us. At the end, we shall have no rules,” Oshiomhole said.
Akpabio upheld the objection, citing Rule 52 (Sub-6), which prohibits reopening a matter once concluded.
“I rule Senator Natasha out of order,” he declared.
Speaking after the plenary, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed disappointment at being shut out of the debate.
She told TheCable, “I am disappointed I wasn’t allowed to speak about an issue that concerns women.
“I am a woman, a mother, and I feel like I should have been recognised to speak, especially as we were only two women in the Senate today during plenary, myself and Senator Banigo. My hand was up throughout the debate.”
She added that she remained passionate about issues affecting women and pledged to make her contributions when the bill is reviewed at the committee stage.