Sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio attack on n’assembly, says Solomon Adeola

Solomon Adeola, senator representing Ogun west in the national assembly, says Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio “amounts to an attack on the institution of Nigeria’s parliament”.

Adeola said Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi central senator, cannot position herself as bigger than the senate.

He added that Akpoti-Uduaghan contravened the senate’s standing orders and the upper legislative chamber did the appropriate thing by suspending her.

“We are all senators-elect until sworn in with the constitution and the standing orders. It is only then that we become senators under oath to abide by the constitution and the standing orders,” Adeola said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the senator, Akpoti-Uduaghan did not exhaust internal resolution mechanisms before filing a lawsuit against the presiding officer and the senate.

“The senate as an institution derives its power from the constitution to make rules for its orderly conduct. And the legislative house (powers and privilege) act 2018 grants the senate rights to conduct its affairs as an arm of government free from judicial encumbrances,” he said.

“The outcome of its decisions can be challenged but the senate cannot be stopped from functioning as an arm of government.”

He said the 10th senate is gender friendly as is evident in many passed bills and motions.

Adeola added that female senators have not been suppressed, silenced or oppressed “as all honour and courtesies due any senator are accorded to them within and outside the red chamber”.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had taken her case against Akpabio to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

“I want to call on the International Parliamentary Union, IPU, not to be coaxed to do anything that will diminish the status of the parliament as the bastion of democracy,” Adeola added.

“IPU should not succumb to being used as an instrument of blackmail against a national institution of parliament.”

Adeola said Akpoti-Uduaghan remains suspended “until she fulfils the conditions offered for her suspension to be reconsidered or a court of competent jurisdiction decides otherwise”.

He added that the senate is bigger than all the present members “and will outlive all of the members in due course”.