Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally submitted a petition to the Senate, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
At the resumption of plenary on Wednesday, March 5, the Kogi Central senator, speaking under Order 40 of the Senate rules, referenced comments she made on Arise TV regarding the allegation and insisted on presenting her claims as an official petition.
Akpabio allowed her to proceed with the submission. However, Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno objected, arguing that the petition could not be entertained because a related matter was already in court.
Quoting Senate rules, Monguno said, “Senate should not receive or deliberate on any matter to which actions are pending in the court of law.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan countered, stating that Monguno was mistaken.
READ ALSO: Chaos at National Assembly: Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse Pro-Natasha Protesters
“This matter is not in court. The matter in court is a defamation against the Senate President’s special assistant on social media, Patrick Mfon, who accused me of dressing indecently to the Senate,” she clarified.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also opposed the petition.“We cannot relax our rules. This petition cannot stand. It is in court. It is defective. There is no way we can accept this petition,” Bamidele declared.
Following his remarks, Bamidele moved for a closed session, leading to a brief commotion before order was restored.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s dispute with Akpabio began on February 20 over her seating arrangement, after which she was referred to the Senate’s disciplinary panel.
Days later, on February 25, she filed a ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit against the Senate President.