Senate rejects Natasha’s petition against Akpabio on sexual harassment

By Haruna Salami

The Senate at its plenary on Wednesday rejected a petition by the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio on alleged sexual harassment.

Senator Natasha raised a point of order (Order 10), which bothers on privilege of a senator.

Akpabio, obviously in order not to be accused of denying her the right accepted the petition and referred it to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petition to report back to the Senate “as soon as practicable”.

However, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno raised Order 40 (4), (7), which states expressly that no senator shall bring a petition before the Senate signed by himself or herself while subsection 7 states that Senate shall not entertain any matter which is pending before a court of law.

Other senators who commented on the issue like the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North) were of the view that Senate should not entertain the petition describing it as “incompetent”.

Senator Fasuyi said the same Natasha had accused the former governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi of sexual harassment without any evidence.

He went spiritual when he quoted Psalm 34:19 which says “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all”.

Natasha’s attempt to still rely on Order 10, which deals with privileges was ignored and the petition was rejected.

Earlier, Akpabio had vehemently denied the allegation of sexual harassment by Senator Natasha, which he said was “making the rounds in the social media and on television”, adding “at no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment” describing it as “a total lie”.

Akpabio said he and his siblings were raised very well by his late single mother who died in the year 2000 through very difficult times adding “I therefore have the highest regards for women.

“I also have beautiful daughters. So, at no time will I ever harass any woman and I’ve never done so. In addition even as a state governor, I was honoured with various awards, one of those awards is the one you wish to know the most gender friendly governor in Nigeria”.

Therefore, Akpabio urged Nigerians, the media and particularly the members of the social media to await the court’s decision and not jump to conclusions as the matters are mere allegations”.

He thanked his colleagues for their numerous phone calls of support, solidarity and prayed that the Almighty God will step in to vindicate the just”, adding that there was “no cause for anxiety”.