The Senate on Wednesday dismissed the sexual harrassment petition filed by Kogi lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, describing it as ‘dead on arrival.’
The red chamber described her action as a violation of the Senate Standing Rules.
This is as Akpoti-Uduaghan shunned the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions which was conducting a review of her face-off with Akpabio over sitting arrangements in the senate.
The kogi senator had in an interview on Arise Television alleged that Akpabio made sexual advances towards her during a visit to his residence in his home state of Akwa Ibom on December 8, 2023.
She alleged that Akpabio held her hand, led her around his house, and made sexual advances towards her while her husband was trailing behind them.
She further claimed that Akpabio had, on a separate occasion, asked her to ‘make him happy’ if she wanted her motions to receive seamless consideration on the floor of the Senate.
The allegations came days after the Senate unanimously voted to refer her to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for protesting the new sitting arrangements in the upper chamber.
But the Senate President denied the sexual harassment claims during Wednesday’s plenary, stating that he has the highest respect for women.
He described the allegation as false and baseless.
“On February 20, 2025, some spurious allegations were making the rounds on social media and on television of purported harassment by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. While I am aware that the matters are in court; I would like to state clearly that at no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment.
“I have my siblings who were raised very well by my late single mother through very difficult times. She died in the year 2000. I, therefore, have the highest regard for women.
“I also wish to say that I have four beautiful daughters; at no time will I ever harass any woman. I never did so. In addition, even as a State governor, I was awarded various awards. One of them was “The most gender-friendly governor” in Nigeria. I served between 2007 and 2015. In conclusion, I urge all Nigerians, particularly the media and members of the social media, to await the court’s decision. Please do not jump to conclusions on this allegation,” he pleaded.
Shortly after the commencement of plenary, Akpoti-Uduaghan formally submitted a petition to the Senate which was referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions by Akpabio.
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Monguno, described her action as a violation of the Senate Standing Rules.
Citing Rules 40 (1-7), he stated, “A petition may only be presented to the Senate by a Senator, who shall affix his name at the beginning thereof.
“A Senator presenting a petition shall confine himself to a brief statement of the parties from whom it came, the number of signatures attached to it and the material allegations contained in it, and to read the prayers of such petitions.
“All petitions shall be ordered, without question being put to lie upon the Table. Such petitions shall stand referred to the Public Petitions Committee.
“No Senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by himself.
“Senate should not receive or tolerate any matter to which actions are pending in any court of law.”
Supporting the position, the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti) stated that the Senate would lay a bad precedent if it went ahead to entertain Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition.
Nodding in agreement, Akpabio said, “There’s a reflection by Senator Mongunu who has served for 16 years as a member of the House of Representatives and was also Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters. It is relevant. For those of you who may have doubts, after this, you can request from the Clerk the Standing Orders of the Senate and look at Rule 40, sub-sections 4 and 7.
“I believe here, sir, that your denial, your refusal to accept and treat my petition before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges is an abuse of my privileges, and I say that this matter is not yet before any court of law.
“The matter before the court is on the defamation and cyberbullying statements made by your Special Assistant on New Media, Mr Patrick Udom, who addressed my decent outfits as transparent, thereby depicting that I walked seductively and naked to the chambers. That is the nature of the petition, of the case in court.
“This petition (brandishing a copy) has never been filed. The petition that alleges, or should I say, accuses you of making sexual harassment moves, abusing your office, and making malicious obstructions to my legislative functions, has not been tendered anywhere or before any courts in Nigeria.
‘’So, sir, I would appreciate it if you kindly accept my petition and forward it to the Ethics and Privileges Committee so it could be treated,” she said.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Neda Imasuen, lsubsequently dismissed her petition, describing it as dead on arrival.
He also dismissed the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja attempting to restrain the Senate from subjecting the Kogi senator to any disciplinary measures.
