Omokri shares video of Natasha accusing him of harassment amid Senate controversy

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has shared a resurfaced video of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accusing him of sexual harassment. This comes shortly after the Kogi senator made similar allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Omokri posted the video on his Facebook page on Saturday, March 8, 2025. The footage, originally recorded on October 12, 2021, was taken during Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Kogi governorship campaign under the Social Democratic Party.

In the video, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that on May 6, 2014, Omokri made inappropriate advances towards her at a state banquet in Aso Rock hosted by then-President Goodluck Jonathan. She called on the Nigerian Immigration Service to verify Omokri’s whereabouts during the period.

Omokri, however, denied the allegations, stating that he was in the United States at the time, working as a special envoy for President Jonathan.

He accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of fabricating the claims and noted that she later deleted the allegations from her social media accounts.

Senate Tension: Akpoti-Uduaghan Suspended Amid Heated Plenary

Meanwhile, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has been suspended from the Senate for six months following a heated dispute with Senate President Akpabio over a change in her seating arrangement.

The conflict erupted on February 20, 2025, when Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the Senate chamber and found her nameplate missing from her usual seat. Refusing to sit elsewhere, she confronted Akpabio, citing Senate Standing Rules that protect members’ privileges.

As tensions escalated, Akpabio ordered security to remove her from the chamber, but fellow lawmakers intervened to de-escalate the situation. The row culminated in a six-month suspension, with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s salary withheld, her office sealed, and her security details withdrawn.

READ ALSO:Sen. Natasha’s suspension: Women advocacy group calls for accountability, justice

Legal Challenge and Public Outrage

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Victor Giwa, has vowed to challenge the suspension in court, arguing that it violates an existing court order restraining the Senate from taking disciplinary action.

The Nigerian Bar Association and opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, have condemned the Senate’s handling of the issue. Critics argue that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not given a fair hearing before her suspension.

Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio remain under review by the Senate Ethics Committee, with a report expected in the coming weeks.