Di Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions don throway Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan petition wey accuse Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office, talk say e “die before e even start”.
Di committee, for Wednesday, talk say di petition no follow correct procedure and e get legal wahala.
For di probe session, di Chairman of di Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, use Order 40 of di Senate Standing Orders take explain say Akpoti-Uduaghan sign di petition by herself instead of make another person endorse am, wey make di petition no valid.
E still add say di matter wey dey di petition don already dey court, so e dey sub judice and di Senate no fit handle am.
Meanwhile, Akpabio don deny di sexual harassment allegation wey di Kogi lawmaker put for im head.
On February 20, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan, wey dey represent Kogi Central, reject di seat wey dem give am for di red chamber and challenge di Senate President order. She later accuse Akpabio of harassment and carry N100bn defamation lawsuit go court against am. Di Akpabio-led Senate come refer her go disciplinary committee.
For July 2024, Akpabio don already apologise to Akpoti-Uduaghan for one nightclub comment wey e make about her.
On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan no show when di Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct start di probe on top her alleged refusal to follow Senate rules.
After one hour wait, di Committee Chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen, talk say e dey disappointed say she no show. “We don wait, but she no dey. I hope say before we finish di process, she go join us.”
E still talk say di committee dey act within dia power, explain say “Na di full Senate refer every petition give us, and we get authority to look di matter. For dis case, na Senate Spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, bring di issue come meet us on February 25, nothing more, nothing less.”
Even as she no show, Senator Imasuen still talk say e hope di Kogi senator go come before di matter finish, confirm say dem properly inform her about di meeting.
