Sexual Harassment: Senate throws out Natasha’s petition

• As Natasha fails to appear before probe committee

The Senate has thrown out a sexual harassment petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), cited breach of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders as reason.

According to Imasuen, Akpoti-Uduaghan signed the petition herself, instead of having it endorsed by another individual, a mischief that purportedly rendered it procedurally invalid.
Imasuen also noted that the issues raised in the petition were already in court, making them sub judice.

Speaking at a probe session, on Wednesday, Senator Neda Imasuen said the petition, ab initio was “dead on arrival.”

In a related development, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to appear before the Senator Imasuen probe panel.

The panel sat notwithstanding a subsisting court order which barred it from probing Natasha pending the determination of an interlocutory application.

The session, set for 2:00 pm, did not commence until 2:58 pm when the committee’s chairman arrived after waiting for both Natasha and Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South).

While Adaramodu eventually arrived at 2:50 pm, Natasha was absent as the session began.

The matter was referred to the Ethics Committee two weeks ago, following Natasha’s actions during a plenary session.
Senate President Akpabio subsequently directed the committee to conduct a thorough investigation and report back within two weeks.

During deliberations, Adaramodu informed the Senate that Natasha’s public challenge of the Senate President over her seat allocation had damaged the Senate’s image.

He also referenced an interview she granted to Brekete Family on Human Rights Radio and TV, where she reiterated her allegations against Akpabio.

Following these discussions, the Senate resolved to refer the matter to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, led by Senator Neda Imasuen, for further review.