By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
ONCE AGAIN, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has brought the sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio before the Nigerian Senate.
This latest submission, made during Thursday’s plenary, comes amid her six-month suspension from the Senate, a move she has denounced as “an injustice that will not be sustained.”
The Kogi Central lawmaker’s renewed petition was submitted on behalf of her constituents, led by Zubairu Yakubu, after her initial complaint was dismissed.
Despite the controversy surrounding her allegations, the Senate has now referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, with a four-week deadline for review.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was enforced after the Senate disciplinary committee ruled that she had breached legislative rules.
The Senate overwhelmingly voted for her suspension, despite some lawmakers advocating for a reduced penalty.
Presiding over the session, Senate President Akpabio stated that the suspension could be reconsidered only if she submitted a formal written apology.
In addition to her suspension, the committee recommended halting her salary and benefits for the duration of the punishment.
However, an appeal by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu led to an exemption for her aides.
“The aides of Natasha are not Natasha,” Senator Kalu argued. “It would be wrong for this Senate to deprive them of their allowances.”
Following this intervention, the Senate agreed that while Akpoti-Uduaghan would not receive her salary, her staff would continue to be paid.
The tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio escalated on February 20, 2025, when the Kogi Central senator protested the reassignment of her seat.
The dispute quickly intensified, leading to a heated exchange on the Senate floor.
Shortly after, she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment—an allegation he has strongly denied.
Her initial petition, submitted on Wednesday, was dismissed on procedural grounds.
The following day, she resubmitted the complaint on behalf of her constituents, which the Senate accepted for review.
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno opposed the petition, arguing that the case was already sub judice due to an ongoing legal dispute involving Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the Senate President’s wife.
He also claimed that since the senator had personally signed the previous petition, it should not have been considered.
Following this challenge, the Ethics Committee ruled the first petition “dead on arrival.”
Despite the setback, Akpoti-Uduaghan has persisted, and the resubmitted complaint is now under legislative review.
The situation in the Senate chamber remained tense on Thursday, with further scrutiny of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct.
Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno raised concerns over her repeated breaches of Senate protocol, citing Order 55, Rule 1, which mandates that senators must stand still upon the presiding officer’s entry.
“I had to send one of the Sergeants-at-Arms to inform her that she was in breach of the rule,” Monguno stated.
He urged Akpoti-Uduaghan to comply with Senate regulations and avoid further violations.
