Natasha Resubmits Sexual Harassment Petition Against Akpabio

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has resubmitted a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

According to PUNCH Online, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs resubmitted the petition during Thursday’s plenary session. This comes after her initial petition was rejected by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions.

During her presentation, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that the newly submitted petition was filed by her constituents, led by a man named Zubairu Yakubu.

Following her submission, Senate President Akpabio questioned whether there were any legal obstacles to accepting the petition. Akpoti-Uduaghan responded that there were none.

Subsequently, Akpabio instructed her to formally present the petition before the Senate. The petition was then referred to the Ethics Committee, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen, with a directive to report back to the plenary within four weeks after a legislative review.

This development follows an earlier petition filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan during Wednesday’s plenary, which accused Akpabio of sexual harassment. The petition sparked significant controversy.

During Wednesday’s session, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), raised a point of order, citing Senate Standing Order 40. He argued that the matter could not be entertained or referred to the Ethics Committee because it was sub judice, as there is an ongoing court case involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the Senate President.

Monguno also contended that the petition could not be considered since Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed it, rather than it being filed by a third party.

As a result, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed the initial petition, declaring it “dead on arrival.”

The resubmission of the petition has reignited discussions about accountability and due process within the Senate, as lawmakers await the Ethics Committee’s review and report.

Source News

Punch newspaper

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