Recall that on March 4, 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State submitted a formal petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, accusing the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment, abuse of office and malicious obstruction of her legislative functions.
Senator Natasha begins her petition by stating that she is bringing these allegations forward “in the interest of justice, fairness and the integrity of the National Assembly.”
She asserts that Senator Akpabio’s actions “have not aligned with the principles of equity, propriety and the rules of the Senate.”
The most serious allegation in the petition is that of sexual harassment, which the senator claims began in December 2023 and continued into 2024.
She details an incident that allegedly took place on December 8, 2023, during a visit to Senator Akpabio’s residence in Akwa Ibom, where she was accompanied by her husband.
According to her, the Senate President made “unsolicited and inappropriate sexual advances towards me, even when my husband was around the vicinity, which I considered very disrespectful.”
She further alleges that Akpabio attempted to lure her into an unethical relationship by suggesting that she should spend “quality moments” with him.
A second incident allegedly took place in May 2024, when Senator Akpabio invited her to his private guest house at 53 Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro, Abuja, under the pretext of discussing legislative matters.
She describes how he attempted to use his position to pressure her into an inappropriate relationship, saying: “You know I am the Senate President; I will give you whatever you want, all you have to do is make me happy.”
She claims that after rejecting these advances, Akpabio retaliated by obstructing her legislative work and suppressing her ability to contribute meaningfully to Senate proceedings.
Beyond the allegations of sexual harassment, Senator Natasha details what she calls deliberate and targeted obstruction of her legislative functions.
She claims that Akpabio’s retaliation included blocking her motion on the Ajaokuta Steel Company, an important economic development issue.
She states: “The motion was listed in the Order Paper several times but was not permitted to proceed, which I reasonably believe was due to my rejection of the Respondent’s entreaties.”
Also, she accuses Akpabio of abusing his authority by orchestrating her removal as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content on February 4, 2025, without explanation.
She tied this decision to an executive order issued by President Bola Tinubu on January 30, 2025, which approved the establishment of five mini-Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.
By stripping her of this role, she argues, Akpabio sought to limit her involvement in a project crucial to her senatorial district.
She also claims that Akpabio actively opposed the LNG project, advocating for its relocation to the Niger Delta despite Ajaokuta’s strategic gas pipeline connections.
The senator also recounts an incident on February 20, 2025, during a plenary session, when Akpabio allegedly humiliated and suspended her from the Senate without due process.
She states that after a fellow senator raised a point of order against her, Akpabio refused to let her respond, called the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove her, and unilaterally suspended her.
She describes this as “a manifestation of the Respondent’s personal vendetta against me.”
Senator Natasha argues that Akpabio has a history of similar misconduct toward women.
She references the 2020 accusations by Dr. Joi Nunie, the former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who publicly accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and recounted an incident where she had to physically defend herself from him.
She cites media reports, including Pulse Nigeria, which covered these past allegations, suggesting a pattern of behavior that should not be ignored.
The senator contends that Akpabio’s actions violate multiple Nigerian laws and ethical standards and warned that allowing these actions to go unchecked would “set a dangerous precedent” and create an environment of fear and oppression, particularly for female legislators and public servants.
Senator Natasha ends her petition with a strong call for justice and accountability.
She urges the Senate Committee to conduct a thorough investigation, stating: “Sexual harassment and abuse of power within the corridors of power must be unequivocally condemned and eradicated.”
She asserts that failure to address these allegations would undermine the dignity of women in public service and threaten the integrity of the Senate as an institution.
However, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions had dismissed her petition on a procedural technicality, claiming that she should not have personally signed it but should have gotten an external endorser.
Despite the dismissal, Senator Natasha resubmitted the petition during plenary on Thursday. After being asked if the matter was in court, the lawmaker answered in the negative. Thereafter, she was directed to submit the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for investigation.
The committee however, recommended her suspension for six months, citing “violation of Senate rules” and accusing her of bringing the Senate to “public opprobrium.”
Although some senators attempted to reduce the suspension to three months, the majority upheld the full six month penalty.
The only concession was that her aides’ salaries would still be paid, following an amendment by Senator Orji Kalu, who argued that they should not suffer for her alleged misconduct.
However, the most controversial condition of her suspension was that she could only return if she issued a written apology.
As she left, she boldly declared, “This injustice would not be sustained.”
Legally, a recent court ruling nullified the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in 2018 provides a strong judicial precedent that could challenge Natasha’s suspension.
In Omo-Agege’s case, the court ruled that the Senate had no constitutional power to suspend a lawmaker for exercising their rights, declaring that such actions “violently violate” the constitution.
The judge further emphasized that “access to court is a fundamental right that cannot be taken away by force or intimidation by any organ.”
However, with the Omo-Agege ruling setting a judicial precedent, Natasha has a strong case to challenge her suspension in court.
– Abdulkadir Bin ABDULMALIK writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.
