Patricia Etteh Explained

Patricia Etteh
Office2:Member of the
House of Representatives of Nigeria
from Osun
Term Start2:3 June 1999
Term End2:6 June 2011
Constituency2:Ayedaade/Isokan/Irewole
Office:10th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria
Term Start:6 June 2007
Term End:30 October 2007
Deputy:Babangida Nguroje
Predecessor:Aminu Bello Masari
Successor:Dimeji Bankole
Birth Date:17 August 1953
Party:Peoples Democratic Party
Otherparty:Alliance for Democracy (1999–2002)
Children:2
Alma Mater:University of Buckingham

Patricia Olubunmi Foluke Etteh (born 17 August 1953)[1] is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as the 10th speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from June to October 2007.

Personal life and education

Patricia Olubunmi Foluke Etteh, a Yoruba,[2] was born on 17 August 1953.[1] [3] She was trained as a hairdresser[4] and beauty therapist, but she also earned a law degree from the University of Bukingham in the United Kingdom and was called to the Nigerian Bar[5] in 2016.[3]

Political career

Etteh represented the Ayedaade/Isokan/Irewole constituency in Osun State.[3] She was initially elected in 1999 as an Alliance for Democracy (AD) member, but she switched to the People's Democratic Party (PDP), when running for re-election in 2003.[1] She was elected to the position of speaker unanimously in June 2007,[6] and she has been the only woman to have held this position in the Nigerian government.[7]

Corruption scandal

In September 2007, she faced a committee of MPs over accusations that she had authorised the spending of 628 million Naira (about US$5 million) on renovations of her official residence and that of her deputy, and the purchase of 12 official cars meant for the House of Representatives. Accusations of theft were chanted at her as she tried to speak in the House, and she was escorted out by the security men as the situation degenerated into a commotion.[8]

The PDP officially continued to back Etteh, although some members, such as Isyaku Ibrahim, criticised this stance.[9] Author and academic, Wole Soyinka, was among those, who called for her resignation,[10] while the former president and PDP member, Olusegun Obasanjo, continued to support her.[11] On 30 October, following weeks of pressure, Etteh resigned her position as speaker.[12] Her deputy, Babangida Nguroje, also resigned.[13] However at the last seating of the 6th session House of Representatives, it was agreed that "There is no record or proceedings of the House, where Patricia Olubunmi Etteh was ever indicted,"[14]

Personal Life

Mrs. Etteh is married to Engineer Etteh, an Akwa Ibom man, and the marriage is blessed with two children.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Etteh moves birthday party to US . 15 August 2007 . Nigerian Tribune online . African Newspapers of Nigeria . 15 August 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234154/http://www.tribune.com.ng/15082007/news/news2.html . 26 September 2007 . dead .
  2. News: Yemi . Bamidele . Adedibu – 'Etteh is Yorubas' Only Hope' . Daily Trust . . 19 September 2007 . 20 October 2007 .
  3. Web site: Honourable Patricia Etteh . 7 October 2007 . NassNig.org . . https://web.archive.org/web/20071012134925/http://nassnig.org/House/Personaldata/Osun/etteh.htm . 12 October 2007 . dead .
  4. News: Paul . Odili . Why Etteh should stand down . Vanguard . Vanguard Media. 26 September 2007 . 7 October 2007 .
  5. Web site: Former House of Reps Speaker, Patricia Etteh, among 4,225 new lawyers. Vanguard Online . Vanguard.
  6. Web site: Homepage . 2022-03-08 . The Nation Newspaper . en-US.
  7. Web site: Mark, Etteh, emerge Senate President, Speaker . 15 August 2007 . IndependentNGonline.com . . 6 June 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071025200154/http://odili.net/news/source/2007/jun/6/609.html . 25 October 2007 . dead .
  8. News: Nigerian MPs brawl over speaker . BBC News . . 20 September 2007. 14 October 2007 .
  9. News: Atang . Izang . Etteh – PDP Endorsed Corruption – Isyaku Ibrahim . Leadership . Leadership Newspapers Group, via allAfrica.com . 7 October 2007 . 14 October 2007 .
  10. News: Geoffrey . Ekenna . Resign, Soyinka tells Etteh . The Punch . 5 October 2007 . 7 October 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110715182737/http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200710053233623 . 15 July 2011 .
  11. News: Philip . Nyam . Etteh: Countdown To 16 October . Leadership . Leadership Newspapers Group . 14 October 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713192609/http://www.leadershipnigeria.com/product_info.php?products_id=15208 . 13 July 2011 .
  12. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/30/africa/AF-GEN-Nigeria-Corruption.php "Nigeria's parliamentary speaker quits over corruption scandal"
  13. News: Index. BBC News .
  14. http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5709008-146/story.csp/2/hi/africa/7069654.stm "Nigeria speaker goes in graft row"
  15. Web site: Leon Usigbe . 2007-08-28 . Nigeria: Who is Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh? . live . 2024-06-27 . AllAfrica.