The Office of the President of the Senate has dismissed reports surrounding a recent visit by Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to the Senate Chamber.
Politics Nigeria reports that the controversy followed reports alleging that Mrs Akpabio gained “unholy access” to the chamber and visited the facility alongside individuals described as marabouts and spiritualists.
The visit, which reportedly took place on a Saturday when the Senate was not in plenary, had generated questions over the purpose of the exercise and how access to the chamber was granted.
However, the Senate President’s Special Adviser on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, Dr Jibril Lawal Tafida, said the visit was strictly administrative and carried out with the knowledge and authorisation of relevant officials.
Tafida, in a statement on Saturday, explained that Mrs Akpabio visited the National Assembly Complex to personally inspect and assess malfunctioning equipment and facilities within the Senate Chamber.
According to him, the inspection was undertaken at the instance of the Senate President, following complaints from senators and staff about the condition of some facilities and concerns over the quality of certain contractual works.
He rejected allegations that Mrs Akpabio was accompanied by marabouts or other persons of questionable character.
Rather, Tafida said those who accompanied her were “duly engaged professionals and technical specialists,” including electrical engineers, ICT and audio-visual technicians, as well as building maintenance experts.
He explained that the specialists were required to assess the technical and structural issues identified within the chamber.
Tafida further maintained that the inspection did not violate any security arrangement, stressing that it was conducted with the knowledge and authorisation of the appropriate authorities within the National Assembly.
He also defended the decision to conduct the exercise on a Saturday, saying weekends provide an opportunity for administrative and maintenance activities to be carried out without interfering with legislative proceedings.
The Senate President’s aide urged Nigerians to disregard the reports linking the visit to spiritual activities, describing them as an attempt to create controversy around what he said was a routine administrative exercise.
He also expressed confidence in the security arrangements and personnel of the National Assembly, describing the institution as one of Africa’s most secure and well-managed democratic establishments.