The Nigerian Senate chamber is the meeting place of the upper legislative house, popularly called the "Red Chamber". The Functions...
The Nigerian Senate chamber is the meeting place of the upper legislative house, popularly called the "Red Chamber". The Functions and powers of the Senate are primarily 1. Lawmaking: The primary function of a Senate chamber is to debate and pass laws for the country. 2. Checks and balances: The Senate can serve as a check on the power of the lower house or the executive branch. For example, the Senate has the authority to impeach top officials in some countries. 3. Confirmation of appointments: Senates often have the power to confirm appointments made by the executive branch, such as cabinet members, judges, and ambassadors. 4 Regional representation: By design, the Senate chamber often serves to ensure that states or regions are equally or proportionally represented in the national legislature, regardless of population size.
It is on record that since the fraudulent selection of Godswill Akpabio as the Senate President, every duty assigned to his office has crumbled. Godswill Akpabio is on autopilot reverse.
His election to the Senate seat is marred by fraud. A coalition of 56 prominent Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including CISLAC, SERAP, CITAD, BudgIT, and Amnesty International Nigeria, has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to step down following the Court of Appeal's affirmation of a conviction in the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial election. Unfortunately, because Nigeria is a lawless state, the sitting Senate President has ignored the court ruling and, to date, he remains President of the Senate.
On October 20 2025, Akpabio was indicted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
This department called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to explain the whereabouts of ₦18.6 billion allegedly misappropriated from the National Assembly Commission Office Complex project.
The demand was issued in a public letter signed on Sunday by Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP's Deputy Director, referencing findings from the 2022 annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which was officially published on September 9, 2025.
According to the report, the funds were disbursed without adherence to legally required procurement processes. SERAP alleges that the contract for the office complex was awarded without: A needs assessment, Public advertisement, Competitive bidding, Approval from the Federal Executive Council, and A Certificate of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). The organisation described the situation as a blatant violation of the Public Procurement Act, warning that the irregularities could amount to fraud and abuse of public office.
Fictitious Company Allegedly Paid Billions
The Auditor-General's findings revealed that ₦11.6 billion was paid over 24 months to an unnamed or fictitious construction company, with no valid contractual agreement issued before payment. The Bill of Quantity for the project was reportedly not priced, raising further concerns about transparency and financial accountability.
In addition to the initial payment, the contract was allegedly inflated by ₦6.9 billion for the conversion of a roof garden into office space, a variation not approved by any oversight authority. The inflated payment was made on November 29, 2023, without the required documentation or legal compliance.
In July 2025, tension escalated after Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) reportedly clashed during a closed-door session. The disagreement, sources said, centered on procedural issues and leadership communication but later snowballed into a broader internal dispute seen as a sign of discontent within the APC caucus.
The Nigerian Senate President is always in the News for one corruption issue or another. Some days ago, other Senators attempted to impeach him for always bringing the red chambers into disrepute.
We can recall the Sex scandal of Senator Natasha against Godswill Akpabio a few months ago. Akpabio's alleged sexual harassment was viral in every tabloid. According to the Senator, the Senate president continually told her that she must "please him" if she wanted to enjoy her privileges and perks of office as a Senator. She said, "I made an allegation of sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on March 5, 2025, and the very next day, I was suspended for six months"
This is the pedigree of the man sitting in the Red Chambers as the President and the number 3 citizen of Nigeria. His continued stay in office ridicules the federal government of Nigeria and is a slap in the face of citizens.
Written by
Mazi Udodi
For
Imo State Media Team
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