Senator Natasha Resubmits Sexual Harassment Petition Against Akpabio

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has once again resubmitted a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The petition, presented during plenary, was submitted on behalf of her constituents, led by Zubairu Yakubu.

Following the submission, Senate President Akpabio sought clarification on whether any legal constraints prevented the petition’s acceptance. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan affirmed that there were none. At 12:38 PM, Akpabio directed her to formally lay the petition before the Senate. The matter was then referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen, with instructions to report back within four weeks.

The resubmission comes after a similar petition filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan the previous day was dismissed. That petition had sparked controversy when Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno cited Senate Standing Order 40, arguing that the issue was sub judice due to an ongoing court case involving Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the Senate President. Monguno further argued that the petition could not be entertained since Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed it. As a result, the Senate Ethics Committee had ruled the petition “dead on arrival.”

This latest development adds to the ongoing tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio. Just last Thursday, a heated confrontation broke out in the Senate chamber after Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio. She arrived to find her nameplate removed and her seat reassigned, prompting her to demand an explanation for what she viewed as an unjustified move.