Plenary in the Senate on Tuesday saw a mild exchange as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central clashed over the Criminal Code Amendment Bill.
The bill, sponsored in the House of Representatives and presented for concurrence by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, proposes harsher penalties for anyone found guilty of facilitating abortions.
Under the proposed law, supplying drugs or instruments for abortion could attract up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a significant increase from the current three-year sentence, without the option of a fine. The amendment also seeks to align Nigeria’s Criminal Code Act with modern social, moral, and medical realities.
The debate intensified over differing interpretations of what constitutes an “unlawful abortion.”
Senator Saliu Mustapha of Kwara Central stressed that abortion might be justified medically or religiously in some cases and should not be automatically criminalised.
Similarly, Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central warned that the amendment could discourage doctors from providing crucial medical advice or intervention in life-threatening situations, calling for the bill to be “stepped down to allow for broader consultations to avoid endangering lives.”
Senate President Akpabio moved to suspend further discussion, instructing the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters to review the contentious sections and report back within two weeks. The motion was adopted by voice vote.
Following the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan sought permission to speak. “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 responded that the matter had been “stepped down in totality.”
However, Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole raised a point of order, cautioning that allowing Akpoti-Uduaghan to speak after the gavel had fallen would breach Senate rules.
“If you grant the exemption to distinguished Senator Natasha, then you must extend the same exemption to us,” he argued.
“At the end, we shall have no rules. The rules should be firm and applied the way you have done.”
Akpabio upheld Oshiomhole’s objection, citing Rule 52, Sub-6, which forbids reopening a concluded matter. “I rule Senator Natasha out of order,” he declared.
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After the session, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed frustration at being denied the opportunity to contribute to the debate.
Speaking to TheCable, she said, “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 and I felt that the Senate President should have recognised me.”
She affirmed her continued commitment to advocating for women’s issues, saying she plans to make her inputs when the bill reaches the committee stage.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who recently returned from a six-month suspension, had previously clashed with Akpabio over seat allocation on February 20 and accused him of sexual advances on February 28.
She was suspended on March 6 for gross misconduct.