Drama as Sen Natasha formally files sexual harassment petition against Akpabio

The embattled senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has formally submitted a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on Wednesday at the Red Chamber.

While submitting the petition under Order 40 of the Senate Rules, Akpoti-Uduaghan told her colleagues that she had previously made the allegations during an interview on Arise TV and was now officially presenting them before the Senate.

Before the petition was accepted and referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for review, there was mild drama as Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, raised an objection against the submission of the petition, arguing that the Senate cannot entertain Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition because the case is in court.

Quoting order 40, rule 7, Monguno said the Senate should not receive or deliberate on any matter to which actions are pending in the court of law.

However, 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 senator said.

The matter was however settled by Akpabio who asked Natasha to proceed with the submission of the petition.

“Distinguished colleagues, this petition is hereby referred to the committee on code of conduct, ethics and public petitions, which should revert to the senate as soon as practicable,” Akpabio said.

While addressing his colleagues, Akpabio dismissed the allegations and insisted that at no time had he harassed Natasha or any woman for that matter.

“At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria,” he said.

The Senate President however, acknowledged receiving multiple calls over the matter since February 25, saying he was aware of the heated debates on social media, and urged Nigerians to refrain from making assumptions and allow the legal process to take its course.

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