Senate Committee Dismisses Sexual Harassment Petition Against Akpabio

The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges has dismissed a sexual harassment petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, citing procedural violations and legal constraints.

Earlier today, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, presented her petition on the floor of the upper legislative chamber. However, the committee swiftly rejected the petition, arguing that it failed to comply with the Senate’s procedural rules.

According to Neda Imasuen, chairman of the Ethics and Privileges Committee, the petition was deemed “dead on arrival” because Akpoti-Uduaghan signed it herself instead of securing an external endorsement, a requirement under the Senate’s standing order.

“The petition that she (Natasha) presented today is dead on arrival; it runs contrary to Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by him or herself,” Imasuen stated. “Since that petition was signed by her, it will not be entertained by this committee.”

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Furthermore, Imasuen noted that the issues raised in the petition are already before the courts, rendering them sub judice and beyond the Senate’s jurisdiction. This development follows a federal high court order in Abuja barring the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with any disciplinary hearing on the matter.

During the committee’s deliberations, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu testified against Akpoti-Uduaghan. Additionally, Senator Titus Zam, chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, and the Senate sergeant-at-arms also testified in opposition to the petition.