Natasha Akpoti’s allegation against Akpabio meant to escape disciplinary proceedings, says CSO

The Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN) says the allegation levelled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is an attempt to divert attention from the disciplinary proceedings.

In a statement on Monday, Francis Okereke Wainwei, the executive director of CNPDN, said the allegation was conceived by Akpoti-Uduaghan, Kogi central senator, to evade the punishment of the senate committee on ethics and privileges over the seating arrangement controversy.

BACKGROUND

On February 28, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the senate president of making sexual advances towards her in his office and residence in Akwa Ibom.

The allegation spurred reactions from notable Nigerians, including a lawsuit against the Kogi senator by Ekaette Akpabio, the senate president’s wife.

Others have called for an investigation into the claims made by the Kogi senator.

The allegation was preceded by a heated argument between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan at the upper chamber on February 20 over seating arrangements.

The Kogi senator disrupted the plenary by rejecting her assigned seat, defying Akpabio’s order, and repeatedly raising a point of order despite being overruled.

Subsequently, the senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions for disciplinary review.

‘SENATE SHOULD FOCUS ON ITS CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES’

Wainwei said the senate should focus on its constitutional responsibilities rather than getting distracted by the sexual allegations.

“This call is necessitated by the strength of our findings, which revealed that the primary aim of the sexual harassment allegation might be to escape punishment from the senate committee on ethics and privileges, which is investigating Natasha for breach of the rules of the senate,” the statement reads.

“It seems to be a desperate attempt to divert attention from her disciplinary proceedings. She is trying to manipulate the senate and the Nigerian people to avoid punishment for her unruly behaviour.

“It is our highly considered opinion that the sexual harassment allegation is a grand ploy by Senator Natasha to escape punishment from the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges for her flagrant breach of the Senate rules.

“She wants to use the sexual harassment allegation to distract the Senate committee and attract sympathy from both the Senate and the Nigerian people as a victim of illegitimate use of power by the Senate President.”