The Senate on Wednesday dismissed a petition from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in which she accused him of sexual harassment.
At a probe session on Wednesday, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, ruled the petition invalid, citing a violation of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders.
He explained that Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed the petition instead of having it endorsed by another individual, rendering it procedurally flawed.
Additionally, he noted that the allegations were already before the court, making them sub judice.
Despite being scheduled to appear before the committee at 2:00 PM, Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent when the session finally began at 2:58 PM. Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), another key figure in the matter, arrived shortly before the session commenced.
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The petition stemmed from an incident during a recent plenary session, after which Akpabio referred the case to the Ethics Committee for investigation.
During deliberations, Adaramodu argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public challenge of the Senate President over her seat allocation had harmed the Senate’s reputation. He also cited an interview she gave on Brekete Family, a program on Human Rights Radio and TV, where she reiterated her claims against Akpabio.
Following the committee’s review, the petition was deemed invalid and dismissed.
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