The Senate on Wednesday dismissed the sexual harassment petition filed by Kogi lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, labelling it as ‘dead on arrival.’
The red chamber described her action as a violation of the Senate Standing Rules.
This comes after Akpoti-Uduaghan ignored the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which was reviewing her dispute with Akpabio over seating arrangements in the Senate.
In an interview on Arise Television, the Kogi senator had accused Akpabio of making sexual advances towards her during a visit to his residence in Akwa Ibom on December 8, 2023.
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She claimed that Akpabio held her hand, led her around his house, and made sexual advances towards her while her husband followed them.
She further alleged that Akpabio had, on a separate occasion, asked her to ‘make him happy’ if she wanted her motions to receive smooth consideration in the Senate.
The allegations surfaced shortly after the Senate unanimously voted to refer her to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for protesting the new seating arrangements in the upper chamber.
However, during Wednesday’s plenary, the Senate President denied the sexual harassment claims, stating that he has the highest regard for women.
He described the allegations as false and baseless.
“On 20 February 2025, some spurious allegations were circulating on social media and television, claiming harassment by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. While I am aware that these matters are before the court, I wish to make it clear that at no point did I ever attempt any sexual harassment.
“I have siblings who were raised by my late single mother, under very difficult circumstances. She passed away in 2000, and I therefore have the utmost respect for women.
“I also have four beautiful daughters; at no time would I ever harass any woman. I never have. Moreover, even as a State governor, I was honoured with various awards, including ‘The Most Gender-Friendly Governor’ in Nigeria. I served from 2007 to 2015. In conclusion, I urge all Nigerians, particularly the media and social media members, to await the court’s decision. Please do not rush to conclusions on this allegation,” he pleaded.
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Shortly after the start of the plenary, Akpoti-Uduaghan formally submitted a petition to the Senate, which was referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions by Akpabio.
The Senate’s Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, described her action as a violation of the Senate Standing Rules.
Citing Rules 40 (1-7), he stated: “A petition may only be presented to the Senate by a Senator, who must affix their name at the beginning thereof.
“A Senator presenting a petition shall limit themselves to a brief statement of the parties from whom it came, the number of signatures attached to it, the material allegations contained within, and the prayers of such petitions.
“All petitions shall be ordered, without question being put, to lie upon the Table. Such petitions shall stand referred to the Public Petitions Committee.
“No Senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by themselves.
“The Senate should not receive or tolerate any matter to which actions are pending in any court of law.”
Supporting this position, the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti), stated that the Senate would set a bad precedent if it proceeded to entertain Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition.
Nodding in agreement, Akpabio said, “There’s a point made by Senator Monguno, who has served for 16 years as a member of the House of Representatives and was also Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters. It is relevant. For those of you who may have doubts, you can request the Clerk’s copy of the Standing Orders of the Senate and refer to Rule 40, sub-sections 4 and 7.”
However, the petitioner interjected, citing a matter of privilege.
“I believe, sir, that your denial and refusal to accept and treat my petition before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges is an abuse of my privileges, and I assert that this matter is not yet before any court of law.
“The matter before the court concerns the defamation and cyberbullying statements made by your Special Assistant on New Media, Mr Patrick Udom, who described my modest attire as transparent, thereby suggesting that I walked seductively and naked into the chamber. That is the subject of the petition before the court.
“This petition” (brandishing a copy) “has never been filed. The petition that alleges, or should I say, accuses you of making sexual harassment advances, abusing your office, and creating malicious obstructions to my legislative functions has not been tendered anywhere or before any courts in Nigeria.
“So, sir, I would appreciate it if you would kindly accept my petition and forward it to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for it to be properly addressed,” she said.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Neda Imasuen, subsequently dismissed her petition, calling it dead on arrival.
He also rejected the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja attempting to prevent the Senate from subjecting the Kogi senator to any disciplinary measures.
Imasuen made these remarks at the maiden sitting of the Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions Committee on Wednesday.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent, and no presentation was made on her behalf.
According to Imasuen, since Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a sexual harassment case in court against Akpabio, the committee could not entertain her petition on the matter.
The panel chair said the Kogi Central Senator likely did not honour the committee’s invitation based on advice from her lawyers.
He added that the judiciary cannot interfere with the affairs of the legislature, and as such, the court order obtained by Akpoti-Uduaghan was not binding on the committee.
Imasuen explained: “In plenary, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan presented a petition before the Senate. There were many objections to that petition because of the manner in which it was submitted. However, in the wisdom of the Senate President, it was still referred to us, to this committee.
“To save time, as we need to report back to the Senate tomorrow (today), I will address that petition. But I will go through our rules and standing orders as amended. From what you read on the floor and what I’ve seen, this petition contains allegations already in court.”
He continued, “The matter is already before the court. As per the procedure of this committee, when a petition is presented to us, the first question we ask is whether or not that petition is before any court. If the answer is yes, we do not consider such petitions. Our Rule Book, Order 40, also sets out the processes that must be followed before a petition is laid. If you allow me, Order 40, Subsection 4, states that no Senator may present a petition signed by themselves.”
“In other words, I cannot submit a petition about myself, signed by myself. That petition should be presented by another Senator. There are three Senators from Kogi State, just as there are from other states.
“The issue before us today is the alleged misconduct of one of our distinguished senators on the floor of the Senate. The petition she presented today is, in fact, dead on arrival. I say this because it contravenes Order 40, Subsection 4, which prohibits a Senator from presenting a petition signed by themselves. Since this petition was signed by her, it will not be entertained by this committee.”
Imasuen expressed his disappointment at the absence of the Kogi lawmaker, saying, “Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was duly invited to this hearing. We have been waiting, but unfortunately, she is not here. I hope she will join us before we conclude the procedure.
“Every petition is referred to us by the entire Senate, and the Committee has the authority to deliberate on such matters. In this case, the issue was brought before us on 25 February by Senate Spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu—nothing more, nothing less.
“The court order is unfortunate. We have the privilege to sit and address issues that affect the Senate, and that is exactly what we are here to do,” he added.
Imasuen further remarked, “She is not here, and now I understand why. She is probably absent on the advice of her lawyers.
“Given this, the committee will proceed to deliberate on the matters presented to us by distinguished senators.
“We will use our rule books and all available documents to make a decision and refer it to the full Senate,” he concluded.
Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), and Titus Zam (APC, Benue North-West) also took turns to testify against Senator Natasha.
In his presentation before the committee, the Head of the Serjeant-at-Arms in the chamber, Mr Muktar Daudawa, explained that seat reallocation was a routine procedure in the chamber and that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not the only senator affected.
