“Chidi Odinkalu Slams Senate’s Move to Summon Brekete Family’s Ahmad Isah”
Chidi Odinkalu, a prominent human rights advocate and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has fiercely criticized the Nigerian Senate’s decision to summon Ahmad Isah, the host of Brekete Family radio, over his live interview with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Odinkalu voiced his disapproval on social media, arguing that the actions of Senate President Godswill Akpabio represented a blatant violation of constitutional rights. He pointed out that Akpabio’s powers as Senate President are not absolute and that summoning Isah, simply for doing his job as a journalist, undermines freedom of speech.
“Someone should please tell @Senator_Akpabio that as President of @NGRSenate, his powers are not at large. He is trampling on constitutional guarantees when he summons Ahmed Isa & @HumanRightsRTV for doing their job of enabling the public to understand the reach of Akpabio’s sexism,” Odinkalu posted on his X handle.
The controversy erupted following a heated exchange in the Senate, where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan voiced her frustration over the unauthorized relocation of her seat during a session. This confrontation with Akpabio led to a disruption of Senate proceedings.
In the aftermath of the incident, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was invited for an interview on Isah’s Brekete Family radio show, where she detailed the events surrounding the altercation. As a result, the Senate decided to summon Isah for questioning on February 27, 2025.
Former Senator Shehu Sani also expressed his disapproval, calling the Senate’s actions against Isah “unnecessary and demeaning.” Sani took to social media to echo his stance, writing: “Inviting Ahmed Isah, the CEO of Brekete Radio, to the Senate is unnecessary and demeaning.”
Both Odinkalu and Sani’s comments have sparked public debate, with many defending Isah’s journalistic right to interview public figures without facing governmental interference. The Senate’s actions have been widely criticized as an attempt to stifle freedom of expression in the media.
