Akpabio punishing me because I refused to sleep with him – Senator Natasha

The lawmaker, who has been in the spotlight due to her dispute with the Senate President, made these allegations today during an interview on ARISE TV.

Recall that there was a heated exchange between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio after her seat was changed without her consent. Following the incident, she was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary review.

The committee, led by Senator Neda Imaseun (LP, Edo South), was given two weeks to submit its findings.

This decision followed a voice vote by lawmakers, emphasizing the need to uphold parliamentary rules and decorum.

Akpoti-Uduaghan has also filed a ₦100.3 billion fundamental human rights lawsuit against Akpabio.

During her interview today, she claimed to have evidence against Akpabio, stating that her husband is a witness.

She mentioned having printed screenshots of their conversations and challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) to extract details of their discussions, saying, “Because he was always calling me on WhatsApp.”

She recounted: “My issue with Akpabio started on 8th of December, 2023 when myself and my husband visited Akwa Ibom for Senator Akpabio’s birthday. Akpabio was showing me around his house and was holding my hands with my husband following behind us when he said, he wants me to come and be spending special moments in his house. My husband heard him and later told me not to travel abroad alone or be with the Senate President alone.”

She further explained her struggle in getting a motion approved for an investigation into alleged corruption in Ajaokuta Steel Company:

“In February, I wanted to move a motion for the investigation on the ills of the corrupt practice in a Ajaokuta steel company. I listed that motion five times. It was the sixth time that it was listed on the order paper that was approved. Many senators can testify to that.

“Before the motion made the order paper, I went to the Senate President in his office, and I said, Senate President, ‘you know how important this Ajaokuta Steel Company is to me, you know how important it is to my people and to Nigerians. I’ve noticed that you have stepped down this motion’. As a matter of fact, a number of senators told me to see him and plead with him so that he would take it. I was like, ‘sir, please, why can’t you take this motion? It’s very important’. Then, it was listed the third time and stepped down.”

He then said, ‘Natasha, I’m the Chief presiding officer of the Senate, you can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me. Make me happy’. At that point, I said, ‘Sir, I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear this.’. He said, ‘Well, the ball is in your court.’. I left his office.

My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”

Akpabio’s media aide, Jackson Udom, did not respond to calls or text messages regarding the allegations.