The Senate on Wednesday dismissed the sexual harassment petition filed by Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, describing it as “dead on arrival” and a violation of Senate Standing Rules.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her during a visit to his residence in Akwa Ibom on December 8, 2023. She claimed that Akpabio held her hand, led her around his house, and made inappropriate advances while her husband was nearby.
Additionally, she alleged that Akpabio had suggested she “make him happy” in exchange for smoother consideration of her motions in the Senate. The accusations were made shortly after the Senate had referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for protesting the new seating arrangements in the chamber.
During Wednesday’s plenary, Akpabio denied the allegations, calling them false and baseless. He emphasized his deep respect for women, citing his upbringing and role as a father to four daughters. He also pointed out that, as a former governor, he was awarded the title of “Most Gender-Friendly Governor” in Nigeria. Akpabio urged Nigerians to await the court’s decision, stressing that conclusions should not be rushed.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had previously submitted a formal petition to the Senate, chose not to attend the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions’ review of her allegations. Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno pointed out that her petition violated Senate rules, specifically Rule 40, which states that a senator cannot present a petition signed by themselves. Monguno also noted that the Senate should not entertain matters that are already before a court.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele echoed Monguno’s stance, warning that accepting Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition would set a dangerous precedent. Akpabio supported their view, referencing the Senate’s Standing Orders to back the decision.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan contested the dismissal, claiming that the matter she presented was not before any court. She argued that the court case she had filed concerned defamatory remarks made by Akpabio’s Special Assistant on New Media, not the sexual harassment claims.
Despite Akpoti-Uduaghan’s objections, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Neda Imasuen, officially dismissed the petition, emphasizing that it could not be entertained due to the ongoing court case and the breach of Senate rules. Imasuen clarified that the committee could not review petitions involving matters already in court, as stipulated in the Senate’s procedures. He expressed disappointment over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s absence, noting that she had been invited to the hearing but likely chose not to attend on legal advice.
Imasuen also dismissed a court order that sought to restrain the Senate from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Akpoti-Uduaghan. He stressed that the judiciary could not interfere in legislative affairs, and the committee’s decision was in line with Senate protocols.
Meanwhile, Senate Spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions, dismissing them as an attempt to generate media attention. He further explained that the seating reallocation, which sparked the initial controversy, was a routine procedure and that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not the only senator affected.
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja has given the National Assembly 72 hours to justify why it should not be restrained from investigating Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged misconduct. The court also granted Akpoti-Uduaghan permission to serve legal documents to the National Assembly through substituted means.
As tensions continued to mount, a group of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters staged a peaceful protest outside the National Assembly, calling for Akpabio’s resignation. However, they were prevented from entering the complex by security personnel. Simultaneously, the Kogi Central Concerned Stakeholders publicly distanced themselves from the ongoing conflict, expressing disappointment over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions and calling for the Senate’s integrity to be upheld.
