Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has resubmitted a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio after her initial submission was dismissed.
During Thursday’s plenary session, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, presented the newly filed petition on behalf of her constituents, led by Zubairu Yakubu.
After presenting the petition, Senate President Akpabio asked whether there were any legal barriers to accepting it, to which Akpoti-Uduaghan responded that there were none. Akpabio then directed her to formally lay the petition before the Senate, referring it to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen. The committee has been given four weeks to review the petition and report back to the Senate.
The resubmission follows a contentious debate in Wednesday’s plenary, where Akpoti-Uduaghan first attempted to present her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.
The petition was swiftly challenged by Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), who cited Senate Standing Order 40, arguing that the petition was sub judice due to an ongoing court case involving Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the Senate President.
Monguno also contested the petition’s validity, arguing that since Akpoti-Uduaghan personally signed it, it could not be considered. Following his objections, the Senate Ethics Committee ruled the petition “dead on arrival”, leading to its dismissal.
