Suspended Senator Natasha Claps Back at Kogi West’s Karimi, Calls for Mandatory Drug Tests for Senators

Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to implement regular drug tests for members of the National Assembly. This call comes in response to remarks made by Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West, regarding her ongoing disputes in the Senate.

Karimi, speaking to journalists in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, defended former Governor Yahaya Bello, suggesting that recent events in the Senate involving Akpoti-Uduaghan validated Bello’s past actions against her.

“I can confidently say that the former governor may not have been wrong in his dealings with Akpoti-Uduaghan, given the current situation in the Senate,” Karimi stated.

He also addressed the ongoing conflict between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, adding, “Former Governor Yahaya Bello must have foreseen this. Other Kogi lawmakers and I worked hard to prevent the state from being disgraced, but our efforts were ignored.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan was recently suspended from the Senate for six months over allegations of misconduct, following her accusation of sexual harassment against Senate President Akpabio.

In a sharp response to Karimi’s comments, Akpoti-Uduaghan said, “The NDLEA should conduct periodic drug tests on Senators. Such measures would curb erratic legislative behavior and hallucinations in the parliament.”

This development highlights the deepening tensions within the Senate and raises questions about accountability and conduct among lawmakers.