The Senate on Wednesday rejected the sexual harassment petition submitted by Kogi lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, labeling it as ‘dead on arrival.’
The upper chamber characterized her complaint as a breach of the Senate Standing Rules.
This occurred as Akpoti-Uduaghan ignored the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions that was reviewing her conflict with Akpabio regarding the seating arrangements in the Senate.
The Kogi senator claimed in an interview with Arise Television that Akpabio made unwanted sexual advances toward her during a visit to his home in Akwa Ibom on December 8, 2023.
She asserted that Akpabio took her hand, guided her around his house, and made sexual overtures in the presence of her husband, who was following them.
Additionally, she alleged that Akpabio, on another occasion, requested her to ‘make him happy’ if she desired her motions to be given prompt attention on the Senate floor.
These allegations surfaced shortly after the Senate voted unanimously to refer her to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for opposing the new seating arrangements in the upper chamber.
However, during Wednesday’s plenary, the Senate President denied the sexual harassment allegations, emphasizing his great respect for women.
He labeled the claims as unfounded and misleading.
“On February 20, 2025, some spurious allegations were making the rounds on social media and on television of purported harassment by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. While I am aware that the matters are in court; I would like to state clearly that at no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment.”
“I have my siblings who were raised very well by my late single mother through very difficult times. She died in the year 2000. I, therefore, have the highest regard for women.
“I also wish to say that I have four beautiful daughters; at no time will I ever harass any woman. I never did so. In addition, even as a State governor, I was awarded various awards. One of them was “The most gender-friendly governor, in Nigeria. I served between 2007 and 2015. In conclusion, I urge all Nigerians, particularly the media and members of the social media, to await the court’s decision. Please do not jump to conclusions on this allegation,” he pleaded.
After the plenary started, Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted a petition to the Senate. Akpabio referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. The Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Monguno, said her action broke the Senate Standing Rules.
Citing Rules 40 (1-7), he stated, “A petition may only be presented to the Senate by a Senator, who shall affix his name at the beginning thereof.”
“A Senator presenting a petition shall confine himself to a brief statement of the parties from whom it came, the number of signatures attached to it and the material allegations contained in it, and to read the prayers of such petitions.
“All petitions shall be ordered, without question being put to lie upon the Table. Such petitions shall stand referred to the Public Petitions Committee.
“No Senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by himself.
“Senate should not receive or tolerate any matter to which actions are pending in any court of law.”
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti) said that if the Senate considers Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition, it would set a bad example.
In agreement, the senate president said, “There’s a reflection by Senator Mongunu who has served for 16 years as a member of the House of Representatives and was also Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters. It is relevant. For those of you who may have doubts, after this, you can request from the Clerk the Standing Orders of the Senate and look at Rule 40, sub-sections 4 and 7.
Senator Natasia responded;
“I believe here, sir, that your denial, your refusal to accept and treat my petition before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges is an abuse of my privileges, and I say that this matter is not yet before any court of law.
“The matter before the court is on the defamation and cyberbullying statements made by your Special Assistant on New Media, Mr Patrick Udom, who addressed my decent outfits as transparent, thereby depicting that I walked seductively and naked to the chambers. That is the nature of the petition of the case in court.
See also: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Accuses Akpabio of Sexual Advances
“This petition (brandishing a copy) has never been filed. The petition that alleges, or should I say, accuses you of making sexual harassment moves, abusing your office, and making malicious obstructions to my legislative functions has not been tendered anywhere or before any courts in Nigeria.
‘’So, sir, I would appreciate it if you kindly accept my petition and forward it to the Ethics and Privileges Committee so it could be treated,” she said.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Neda Imasuen, dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition, calling it “dead on arrival.” He also rejected a Federal High Court order from Abuja that tried to stop the Senate from taking any disciplinary action against the Kogi senator.
He made these statements during the first meeting of the Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions Committee on Wednesday. Akpoti-Uduaghan did not attend the meeting, and no one spoke on her behalf.
Imasuen explained that the committee could not consider her petition because she had already filed a sexual harassment case in court against Akpabio. He suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan likely missed the committee’s invitation based on advice from her lawyers.
He added that the judiciary cannot interfere with how the legislature operates, so the court order Akpoti-Uduaghan obtained does not apply to the committee.
Imasuen said, “In the plenary on the floor of the Senate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan presented a petition before the Senate.
“There were a lot of objections to that petition because of the manner in which it came. But in the wisdom of the Senate President, it was still referred to us, to this committee.
“And for us to save time because we need to report back to the Senate tomorrow (today), I will address that petition. But I will go through our rules and our standing orders as amended. That petition, from what you read on the floor and from what I’ve seen, is making some allegations that are already in court.’’
