Senator Adams Oshiomhole has denied making claims about forged signatures during Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's suspension. He issued a clarification statement in Abuja on Thursday.
The APC senator from Edo said his recent television remarks were misinterpreted. His words during an appearance on AIT's Politics Today had been twisted, he noted.
"The insinuation that I said signatures of senators were forged is a complete misrepresentation," Oshiomhole told reporters. He stressed this point emphatically.
According to him, he actually agrees with Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu that no signatures were forged. Adaramodu had made this same assertion earlier.
No senator has approached him with complaints about forged signatures, Oshiomhole added. He wanted the record set straight on this matter.
What he actually said was different. One committee member had merely claimed that attendance signatures were attached to the final report, he explained.
"Any suggestion to the effect that I alleged that any senator's signature was forged is completely untrue," Oshiomhole stated. The false claim should be disregarded entirely.
His comments came while discussing Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele's earlier statement. Bamidele had called the suspension matter "the lowest point" of the 10th Senate's three-year tenure.
Oshiomhole felt Bamidele's assessment warranted serious consideration. The Senate Leader wasn't "given to frivolities," he said during the interview.
Officials close to him said Oshiomhole expressed regret about any unintended consequences. His remarks may have caused embarrassment, he acknowledged.
The senator reiterated that nobody informed him of any forged signatures. He distanced himself completely from such accusations.
Oshiomhole noted that the Akpoti-Uduaghan suspension issue has been resolved completely. The Senate has moved forward and closed that chapter.
"I regret if my comments may have caused embarrassment to any senator or the 10th Senate as an institution," he said. His clarification aimed to settle the controversy once and for all.
