Senator Natasha resubmits sexual harassment petition against Akpabio
ABUJA – Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, has once again presented a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a plenary session.
This petition was submitted on behalf of her constituents, represented by Zubairu Yakubu. Following the submission, Senate President Akpabio sought clarification on whether any legal barriers existed that would prevent the acceptance of the petition.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed that there were no such barriers. At 12:38 PM, Akpabio directed her to officially present the petition to the Senate.
The petition was then assigned to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), with instructions to report back to the plenary within four weeks after conducting a legislative review.
This incident follows a similar petition submitted by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan the day before, which had generated significant controversy. Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), raised a point of order, referencing Senate Standing Order 40.
He argued that the matter could not be addressed or referred to the Ethics Committee due to its sub judice status, stemming from an ongoing court case involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the Senate President's spouse.
Monguno further asserted that the petition could not be entertained since it bore the personal signature of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. Consequently, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed the petition, labeling it as “dead on arrival.”
This recent petition intensifies the ongoing discord between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio.
Just last Thursday, a heated altercation occurred in the Senate chamber when Akpoti-Uduaghan objected to the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio. Upon her arrival, she discovered that her nameplate had been removed and her seat reassigned, leading her to demand an explanation for what she viewed as an unwarranted action.
