Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights advocate and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has strongly criticized the Nigerian Senate’s decision to summon Brekete Family radio host, Ahmad Isah, over his live interview with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Odinkalu took to social media to express his disapproval, stating that Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s actions were a direct violation of constitutional rights. He emphasized that Akpabio’s powers as Senate President were not limitless and argued that summoning Isah for merely performing his journalistic duty was an infringement on freedom of speech.
“Someone should please tell @Senator_Akpabio that as President of @NGRSenate, his powers are not at large. He is trampling on constitutional guarantees when he summons Ahmed Isa & @HumanRightsRTV for doing their job of enabling the public to understand the reach of Akpabio’s sexism,” Odinkalu wrote on his X handle.
The controversy began after a heated exchange in the Senate last week, where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the unauthorized relocation of her seat during a session. This led to a confrontation with Akpabio, disrupting proceedings in the upper chamber.
Following the incident, Akpoti-Uduaghan was invited for an interview on Isah’s Brekete Family radio programme, where she discussed the events surrounding the altercation. This interview prompted the Senate to summon Isah for questioning on February 27, 2025.
Former Senator Shehu Sani also weighed in on the matter, condemning the Senate’s decision as “unnecessary and demeaning.” Sani expressed his view that the Senate’s actions were unwarranted, particularly in light of Isah’s role as a journalist.
Taking to his X handle on Monday, Sani wrote: “Inviting Ahmed Isah, the CEO of Brekete Radio, to the Senate is unnecessary and demeaning.”
The post Odinkalu Slams Akpabio For Summoning Brekete Family Host, Says It Infringes On Freedom Of Speech appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
2 min read
307 words
1 view