The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions has dismissed a sexual harassment petition filed by the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, announced the decision on Wednesday during a probe hearing at the National Assembly.
Imasuen stated that the petition was “dead on arrival” due to a breach of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Order. He explained that Akpoti-Uduaghan signed the petition herself, instead of having it endorsed by another person, which made it invalid.
“The petition that she (Natasha) presented today is actually dead on arrival; it runs contrary to Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by him or herself. Since that petition was signed by her, it will not be entertained by this committee,” Imasuen said.
He further noted that the issues raised in the petition were already in court, making them subjudice.
Despite the committee’s planned sitting, Akpoti-Uduaghan did not attend the hearing. The session, scheduled for 2 pm, started at 2:58 pm when Imasuen arrived after waiting for both Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu. While Adaramodu arrived at 2:50 pm, Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent.
Earlier on Wednesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan presented the petition during a plenary session, accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment. However, Akpabio quickly denied the claims, calling them baseless.
“At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria,” Akpabio said.
