The Nigerian Senate on Thursday made key decisions during plenary, including the removal of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) as Chair of the Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, replacing her with Senator Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East).
No official explanation was given for the reshuffling, which comes months after Akpoti-Uduaghan was similarly redeployed from the Local Content Committee in February 2025.
In a separate resolution, the Senate called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in securing ₦200 million in compensation for the family of two-year-old Ivan Omhonrina, who was fatally shot during an NDLEA operation in Asaba, Delta State, on July 13, 2023. The motion, presented by Senator Neda Imaseun, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, described the incident as tragic and avoidable.
Lawmakers condemned the killing and urged the NDLEA to take full responsibility, emphasizing the need for accountability in security operations. The Senate also observed a minute of silence in honor of the deceased toddler and mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to oversee the implementation of the resolution within two months.
The case had previously drawn widespread outrage, with civil society groups demanding justice for the victim’s family. The Senate’s latest move reinforces calls for law enforcement agencies to exercise greater caution in operations involving civilians.
