A heated exchange erupted on Tuesday between Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi North, and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, during a Senate hearing.
The altercation occurred at the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions session, which was considering a fresh petition submitted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Present at the hearing were Ezekwesili, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel Abiola Akiode, and petitioner Zubairu Yakubu.
Tensions flared when Yakubu attempted to speak while Committee Chairman Neda Imaseun was addressing the room. He was asked to mute his microphone, but when Ezekwesili tried to intervene, Nwaebonyi interjected.
Ezekwesili responded by telling the senator to “compose himself and stop making noise,” prompting an angry reaction.
“You’re a fool. What do you mean? Why are you talking to me like that? I will not take it. You’re an insult to womanhood. People like you cannot be here,” Nwaebonyi retorted.
Ezekwesili fired back, calling him a “hooligan,” further escalating the confrontation.
The verbal clash momentarily disrupted proceedings before order was restored. Shortly afterward, Imaseun announced that the matter was already before a court, leading to an abrupt end to the session
