In a dramatic turn of events, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has once again brought forward a petition to the Senate, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—a matter she says has been signed by her constituents.
The Kogi Central lawmaker raised the allegation during Thursday’s plenary, after which she was asked whether the case was already being handled by a court of law.
Responding affirmatively, she confirmed that it was not, prompting the Senate to follow procedural protocol and refer the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for investigation.
The committee has been tasked with investigating the matter and submitting a report within four weeks. This marks the second time Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has raised the accusation in the Senate. A previous petition was dismissed just a day earlier due to procedural irregularities.
Tensions briefly flared ahead of the plenary session as Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Munguno, voiced concerns over Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s repeated violations of Senate protocol.
Citing Order 55, Rule 1, which requires all senators to remain standing until the presiding officer has taken their seat, Munguno alleged that the Kogi lawmaker had persistently disregarded this rule, a matter that had reportedly made waves in the media.
Munguno further disclosed that he had to send a Sergeant-at-Arms to remind Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of the breach. “If you are seeking refuge under Order 10, then you cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time,” Munguno stated, pointing to what he termed a lack of respect for the institution.
In a more personal plea, the Senate Chief Whip addressed her directly: “Senator Natasha, as my friend and colleague, please ensure you comply and stop breaching the rules.” The exchange highlighted a growing tension between protocol enforcement and personal relationships within the Senate as lawmakers prepare for a more intense investigation into the serious allegations.
