JUST-IN: Senator Natasha resubmits sexual harassment petition against Akpabio

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, has once again resubmitted a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary.

This time, the petition was submitted on behalf of her constituents, led by Zubairu Yakubu.

Following the submission, Akpabio sought clarification on whether any legal barriers existed against accepting the petition. Akpoti-Uduaghan responded that there were none, prompting Akpabio to direct her to formally lay the petition before the Senate at 12:38 PM.

The petition was then referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), with a mandate to review it and report back within four weeks.

This move follows a similar petition submitted by Akpoti-Uduaghan the previous day, which sparked controversy. Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), had raised a point of order citing Senate Standing Order 40, arguing that the matter could not be entertained as it was sub judice due to an ongoing court case between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the Senate President’s wife.

Monguno also contended that the petition was invalid because Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed it. As a result, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed the petition, declaring it “dead on arrival.”

This latest development further fuels the ongoing tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio.

Just last Thursday, a heated confrontation occurred in the Senate chamber when Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio. She arrived at the session to find her nameplate removed and her seat reassigned, prompting her to demand an explanation for what she viewed as an unjustified action.