By Uche Onyeali
Nigerian are yet to see the end in the imbroglio between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the female lawmaker yesterday submitted a petition to the red chamber over her claim of sexual harassment.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the Senate president of sexual harassment, as well as abusing his office.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had appeared on a television programme on Friday, February 28 where she chronicled the genesis of her problem with Akpabio.
According to her, Akpabio had consistently rebuffed her attempts to present her motion on underhand activities at Ajaokuta Steel Company in her constituency in Kogi State, due to her refusal to yield to his sexual overtures towards her.
“I listed that motion five times. It was the sixth time that it got approved. Anytime the motion is listed, just before he takes it, he will say, ‘Oh, Senator Natasha, we cannot take this motion because the mood of the Senate does not accommodate it,’ or he will speak on others and just let it drag,” she alleged.
According to the Kogi senator, when she confronted Akpabio about the delay, he responded: “Natasha, I am the chief presiding officer. You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.”
She said she refused to acknowledge the statement, but he replied: “The ball is in your court.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations followed a confrontation in the Senate chamber the previous day.
Akpabio ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove her from the chamber after she resisted relocating to a new seat assigned to her, following the defection of two opposition senators to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Citing Orders 24 and 6, the Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno asserted that it was within the Senate president’s authority to reassign seats and that a senator could only speak from their designated position.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan, insisting that her privileges had been breached, attempted to raise a point under Order 10, leading to a heated session in the chamber.
Reacting to the allegations, Akpabio denied any form of sexual harassment brought against him by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Speaking at yesterday’s Senate session, the Senate president told his colleagues that he had been raised very well by his late mother and had never harassed any woman.
According to him, “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.”
The issue has generated huge debate in Nigeria with many calling for an independent investigation.
In a social media post, former Senate President Bukola Saraki said the issues raised were too serious to be simply brushed aside.
Meanwhile, afterthe Senate leadership come up to aver that the issue between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio would not be be investigated, as no formal petition had been received on the matter, the female lawmaker yesterday submitted her petition at plenary, formally accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment.
According to the lawmaker, she had to open up on her predicament because he was punishing her for refusing his sexual advances.
Addressing her fellow lawmakers, she said, “Distinguished colleagues, I am Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and I stand to raise a petition under Order 40: ‘A petition may only be presented to the Senate by a senator who shall affix his or her name at the beginning thereof.’
“The petition is in my name against the president of the Nigerian Senate, His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio for sexual harassment, abuse of office and malicious obstruction of my legislative functions. You may recall Sir on Friday, on Arise TV, I did make some statements and I have decided to narrow these statements in a formal petition against the president of this Senate, so if it may please you, I will humbly step forward and lay this petition.”
As the president, Akpabio directed Akpoto-Uduaghan to proceed with the petition, even as he referred it to the Senate Committee on the Code of Conduct, Ethics and public Petitions.
AljazirahNigeria reports that a group of youths from Kogi State yesterday staged a protest at the entrance of the National Assembly, calling for the immediate resignation of the Senate president, to pave way for a thorough investigation on the allegation.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Akpabio must resign,’ ‘Protect women’s rights,’ ‘Leave Natasha alone,’ ‘Akpabio mist step down,’ ‘Women’ s right is our right, and ‘We stand with Senator Natasha.’
The protesters were led by Victor Giwa, who identified himself as a lawyer and human rights activist.
Addressing journalists, Giwa demanded the resignation of the Senate president to allow independent and unbiased probe of the allegations.
He also urged the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to, which the matter was referred, to handle the case transparently and ensure that the process is free from political interference.
This is after some dignitaries, including former senators, religious and traditional rulers have called for caution over the matter, with many urging amicable resolution between the two senators.
