Senate Rejects Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sexual Harassment Petition Against Akpabio, Citing Procedural Irregularities, Sub Judice Rule, and Her Failure to Appear Before Ethics Committee
The Senate has rejected a petition by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
At a probe session on Wednesday, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, ruled the petition “dead on arrival” due to a breach of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders. He noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan signed the petition herself, rather than securing an endorsement, rendering it procedurally invalid. Additionally, he stated that the matter was already in court, making it sub judice.
Despite being scheduled to appear before the committee, Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent when the session—set for 2:00 PM—eventually began at 2:58 PM. The petition was initially referred to the Ethics Committee after she publicly confronted Akpabio over seat allocation during a plenary session.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions and media interviews had tarnished the Senate’s image. Following deliberations, the Senate resolved to have the Ethics Committee review the matter, but the petition has now been dismissed.
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