Alleged sexual harassment: Senator Natasha submits petition against Akpabio

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has submitted a petition against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of sexual harassment and abuse of office.

The petition was submitted at plenary days after she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment on national television.

According to the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, she had to open up on her predicament because Akpabio was punishing her for refusing his sexual advances.

This was after her contributions at plenary were not acknowledged by Akpabio because she refused to speak from the seat she was assigned to in the chambers, which she claimed was unfavourably positioned.

Her allegation led to calls for Akpabio to resign as Senate president pending when a probe is initiated and concluded.

However, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, told Arise TV that the Senate was not paying attention to Natasha’s allegation because there was no such case in the form of a petition before it.

This may have prompted Natasha’s decision to file a petition on Wednesday which she submitted to Akpabio.

Addressing fellow lawmakers, she said, “Distinguished colleagues, I am Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and I stand to raise a petition under Order 40: ‘A petition may only be presented to the Senate by a Senator who shall affix his or her name at the beginning thereof.’

“The petition is in my name against the President of the Nigerian Senate, His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio for sexual harassment, abuse of office and malicious obstruction of my legislative functions. You may recall Sir on Friday, on Arise TV, I did make some statements and I have decided to narrow these statements in a formal petition against the President of this Senate, so if it may please you, I will humbly step forward and lay this petition.”

In response, Akpabio said, “You may proceed.”