Sexually harassed Senator Natasha submits strongly worded petition against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, has officially submitted a petition alleging sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

She presented the petition on the floor of the Senate, bringing the matter into the legislative spotlight.

Citing Order 40 of the Senate rules, Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that she had previously made comments on Arise TV regarding the alleged harassment and decided to formally bring the issue before the Senate. In response, Akpabio permitted her to proceed with the submission, which she did.

However, Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno objected to the petition’s submission, arguing that the Senate could not entertain the matter since it is already before a court.

This development adds a new dimension to the controversy, raising questions about how the Senate will handle the petition amid ongoing legal proceedings.

Citing order 40, rule 7, he said “senate should not receive or deliberate on any matter to which actions are pending in the court of law”.

Akpoti-Uduaghan rejected Monguno’s point, arguing that he had got the sequence of events wrong.

“This matter is not in court. The matter in court is a defamation against the senate president’s special assistant on social media, Patrick Mfon, who accused me of dressing indecently to the senate,” the Kogi lawmaker said.

Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate leader, also debated against the submission of the petition.

“We cannot relax our rules. This petition cannot stand. It is in court. It is defective. There is no way we can accept this petition,” Bamidele hollered.

The senate leader then moved that the senate goes into a closed session. A brief rowdy session ensued before calm was restored. The senate then proceeded with the business of the day, while Natasha walks out of the chamber.

Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with Akpabio on February 20 over sitting arrangements. She was thereafter referred to the senate’s disciplinary panel for further action.

On February 25, she filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against the senate president.