Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, are set to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions (SCEPPP) regarding allegations of sexual harassment.
This announcement was made by Senate Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwebonyi during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday. He confirmed that all parties involved would provide testimonies to the committee, including the Senate President. “He will come and testify, and his testimony will be recorded, along with those of other senators,” Nwebonyi stated.
Natasha, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleged that the incident occurred in December 2023 during a visit to Akpabio’s residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with her husband. She claimed that during this visit, the Senate President held her hand, guided her around his home, and made inappropriate advances in the presence of her husband.
In response, Nwebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North, accused his colleague of attempting to divert attention from other issues, asserting that the Senate is unfazed by the allegation. “In criminal prosecution, there is what we call prima facie evidence—evidence on the surface. If there is no prima facie evidence, then there is no case,” he explained. “She knows that what she is saying is meant to divert attention, but we are not disturbed because we know the truth. Many senators were present on the alleged date of the incident, and I am one of the key witnesses who will share what I observed.”
Following Natasha’s petition against Akpabio for sexual assault and other accusations, the Senate suspended her for violating its rules. The Senate President has strongly refuted the claims.
On Tuesday, the suspended Kogi Senator took her case to an international platform during the Women in Parliament session at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Meeting (IPU) at the United Nations in New York, seeking justice and the intervention of global democratic institutions. She criticized her suspension, calling it illegal. “I was suspended unlawfully because I submitted a petition for sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. I had hoped that by filing the petition, he would recuse himself, and we could both present ourselves to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for a fair and transparent investigation. Instead, I was silenced and suspended,” she stated.
Natasha emphasized that her suspension reflects a broader issue of women’s political representation in Nigeria. “I am here illegally, but I have no other place to go. This situation represents a larger crisis regarding the systemic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria,” she added.
In contrast, Akpabio has vehemently denied the allegations. “At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised right by my late single mother and have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the title of the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria,” he stated. The Senate President acknowledged the public discourse surrounding the matter since February 25 and urged Nigerians, the media, and social media users to refrain from jumping to conclusions.
Leave a Reply