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Patricia Etteh

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Patricia Etteh
Patricia O. Etteh in 2008
10th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria
In office
6 June 2007 – 30 October 2007
DeputyBabangida Nguroje
Preceded byAminu Bello Masari
Succeeded byDimeji Bankole
Member of the
House of Representatives of Nigeria
from Osun
In office
3 June 1999 – 6 June 2011
ConstituencyAyedaade/Isokan/Irewole
Personal details
Born (1953-08-17) 17 August 1953 (age 71)
Political partyPeoples Democratic Party
Other political
affiliations		Alliance for Democracy (1999–2002)
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Buckingham
Profession
  • Politician
  • lawyer
  • beauty therapist

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

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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

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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 Peoples 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

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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. 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,"[13]

Personal Life

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Mrs. Etteh is married to Engineer Etteh, an Akwa Ibom man, and the marriage is blessed with two children.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Etteh moves birthday party to US". Nigerian Tribune. 15 August 2007. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
  2. ^ Bamidele, Yemi (19 September 2007). "Adedibu – 'Etteh is Yorubas' Only Hope'". Daily Trust. Retrieved 20 October 2007 – via allAfrica.
  3. ^ a b c "Honourable Patricia Etteh". National Assembly of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
  4. ^ Odili, Paul (26 September 2007). "Why Etteh should stand down". Vanguard. Retrieved 7 October 2007. [dead link‍]
  5. ^ Nnochiri, Ikechukwu (30 November 2016). "Former House of Reps Speaker, Patricia Etteh, among 4,225 new lawyers". Vanguard. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Homepage". The Nation. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Mark, Etteh, emerge Senate President, Speaker". Daily Independent. 6 June 2007. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
  8. ^ "Nigerian MPs brawl over speaker". BBC. BBC News. 20 September 2007. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
  9. ^ Izang, Atang (7 October 2007). "Etteh – PDP Endorsed Corruption – Isyaku Ibrahim". Leadership. Retrieved 14 October 2007 – via allAfrica.
  10. ^ Ekenn, Geoffreya (5 October 2007). "Resign, Soyinka tells Etteh". The Punch. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
  11. ^ Nyam, Philip. "Etteh: Countdown To 16 October". Leadership. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2007.
  12. ^ "Nigeria's parliamentary speaker quits over corruption scandal". International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
  13. ^ "Nigeria speaker goes in graft row". BBC News. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  14. ^ Usigbe, Leon (28 August 2007). "Nigeria: Who is Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh?". Vanguard. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via allAfrica.
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