Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he blocked her motions in the Senate after she rejected his advances.
In an interview with Arise Television on Friday, February 28, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed the issue began on December 8, 2023, during a visit to Akpabio’s residence in Ikot-Ekpene.
She said, “My issue with Akpabio started on the 8th of December, 2023. We went to his house at Ikot-Ekpene, and he held my hand and said he wanted to show me around his house.
“Just the three of us, my husband and him. I noticed he hastened his pace while still holding my hand, and he got to this particular sitting room.
“He asked, ‘do you like my house?’ and I replied, ‘of course, yes,’ and he said, ‘now that you are a Senator, you are going to create time for us to spend quality time here and you will enjoy it.’”
The senator further alleged that Akpabio later made inappropriate remarks when she sought his approval to move a motion on the Ajaokuta Steel project.
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“Later, on the floor of the Senate, I was also told by Senators to approach him to move a motion concerning the Ajaokuta Steel, and he then told me that ‘Natasha, I am the Chief Presiding officer of the Senate.
“You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.’ At that point, I told him that I would pretend I didn’t hear that.
“My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”
The rift between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio has been intensifying in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, she was controversially removed as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, a move she claimed was politically motivated.
The tension escalated further when her seat in the Senate chamber was suddenly changed without prior notice.
The decision sparked outrage, leading to a heated confrontation where she openly challenged the leadership on the Senate floor.
She was seen raising her voice in protest, demanding an explanation for the change, which she interpreted as an attempt to humiliate and sideline her.
Following the incident, the Senate set up a disciplinary panel to investigate her conduct, raising concerns that she could face further sanctions.
Sen. Natasha on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, filed a lawsuit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, listing the Senate President, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Akpabio’s Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, as defendants.
The suit, marked CV/737/25, alleges that defamatory remarks were made by Akpabio and published by Patrick on Facebook.