Natasha Akpoti submits ‘sexual harassment’ petition against Akpabio as senate resumes plenary

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central, has tendered a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the upper legislative chamber.

Rising under order 40 of the senate rules, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she had made some comments on Arise TV bordering on alleged sexual harassment by Akpabio, and had decided to table same as a petition before the senate.

Akpabio asked the senator to proceed with the submission of the petition — which she did.

“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.

However, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, chief whip of the senate, raised an objection against the submission of the petition. He argued that the senate cannot entertain Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition because the case is in court.

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

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 lawmaker said.

Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate leader, also debated against the submission of the petition.

“We cannot relax our rules. This petition cannot stand. It is in court. It is defective. There is no way we can accept this petition,” Bamidele hollered.

The senate leader then moved that the senate goes into a closed session.

A brief rowdy session ensued before calm was restored.

The senate thereafter proceeded with the business of the day, with Akpoti-Uduaghan staging a walkout.

Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with Akpabio on February 20 over seating arrangements. She was thereafter referred to the senate’s disciplinary panel for further action.

On February 25, she filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against the senate president.