Nigerians Question Senate’s Decision to Summon Brekete Family Founder Ahmad Isah Over Interview with Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Nigerians have expressed outrage and confusion over the Senate’s decision to summon Ahmad Isah, founder of the Brekete Family Radio, to appear before it following his interview with Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The Senate, in an official statement, called on Isah, also known as the Ordinary President, to appear before it on February 27, 2025, to explain his involvement in the controversial broadcast.

The interview with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, which is at the center of the Senate’s summons, reportedly touched on serious allegations of sexual harassment involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The broadcast, which aired on the Brekete Family Radio, has drawn significant attention and sparked debates across the country.

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has condemned the Senate’s decision, voicing his support for Ahmad Isah and criticizing the move as an unwarranted attack on free speech and media independence. "I stand with Ahmad Isah," Sani stated on social media. "The Senate’s decision to summon him for simply doing his job as a journalist is not only an abuse of power but also an assault on press freedom."

Sani’s comments have resonated with many Nigerians who see the Senate’s actions as an attempt to intimidate the media and silence dissenting voices. Several social media users have raised concerns that the move could set a dangerous precedent, where journalists and media outlets are penalized for covering sensitive issues or interviewing political figures about ongoing legal cases.

Many Nigerians have questioned why the Senate would intervene in a matter that is clearly within the domain of journalism and press freedom. "Why is the Senate getting involved in an interview? Ahmad Isah was doing his job," one Twitter user wrote. "This is an attack on media freedom, and Nigerians should be worried."

Support for Ahmad Isah has also come from advocacy groups and media professionals, who have called for the Senate to respect the independence of the press and focus on more pressing national issues. "This is not the first time we are witnessing attempts to silence journalists, but we must continue to stand firm in support of freedom of speech and expression," said a representative from the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The controversy has sparked a wider conversation about the role of the media in Nigeria, with many questioning the balance between political power and journalistic integrity. As Ahmad Isah prepares to face the Senate on February 27, 2025, the situation remains tense, and Nigerians are keenly watching how the Senate will handle the issue.