Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, has defended his verbal clash with former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili during the Senate Ethics Committee’s hearing in Abuja.
The heated exchange occurred on Tuesday as the committee began investigating allegations of sexual harassment involving suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
During the hearing, tensions escalated when Nwebonyi described Ezekwesili as an “insult to womanhood” and a “hooligan.” Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television program, the senator claimed his remarks were a response to Ezekwesili’s disrespectful conduct.
“She turned to me and said, ‘Will you shut up your mouth, you are a hooligan,’” Nwebonyi alleged. “I responded by saying, ‘You are the hooligan,’ because I couldn’t believe a former minister would speak to a sitting senator that way.”
According to Nwebonyi, the disagreement began when Ezekwesili refused to be sworn in as a witness. He said he offered to take the oath to present his evidence when Ezekwesili interrupted him with the alleged insult.
Despite the backlash, Nwebonyi insisted his reaction was justified, adding that he would not tolerate disrespect from anyone.
