Natasha vs Akpabia
In the wake of a another pultrid scandal in highest legislative chamber of Nigeria the Nigerian lawmakers have suspended a female senator for six months, after she submitted a petition alleging she had been sexually harassed by the senate president.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (1979) is a Nigerian barrister and politician who is a member of the 10th Nigeria National Assembly representing Kogi Central Senatorial District since 2023. Born to a Nigerian father and Ukrainian mother, Akpoti was educated at the University of Abuja. She first made the accusations against Godswill Akpabio, the Senate president of Nigeria, in an interview last Friday.
After dismissing her petition on procedural grounds, the ethics committee of the Senate recommended Uduaghan’s suspension, saying she had brought ridicule to the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Some senators argued that her suspension be cut to three months but a majority voted to stick with the six months suspension recommended by the ethics committee.
Women’s rights activist Hadiza Ado told the BBC that Senator Uduaghan’s suspension was a “sad day for Nigerian women”.
Uduaghan afterwards described her suspension as “an injustice that will not be sustained”.
She vowed to continue her “pursuit for justice” over her treatment.
The accusations have dominated discussions across Nigeria since she first made them nearly a week ago.
Many highly placed people and groups have called for a transparent investigation.
On Wednesday, two groups of protesters gathered at the assembly ground in the capital, Abuja – one backing Akpabio and the other in support of his colleague, chanting ”Akpabio must go.”
Mrs Ado, who founded the Women and Children Initiative, said: “We’ve been following events at the Assembly keenly and hoping that investigation into Natasha’s allegations would follow.”
“All we can say is that today is a sad day for Nigerian women fighting for emancipation. Out of 109 senators, only four are women and one is now suspended,” she said.
Many women on social media also expressed their anger over the suspension, with some calling it “oppression.”
During her suspension, Uduaghan will be barred from the National Assembly premises and her office will be locked.
The petition filed by a Nigerian senator alleging sexual harassment by the senate president has been dismissed.
Godswill Akpabio, one of the country’s most senior politicians, on Wednesday denied the allegations made against him by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The ethics committee which was mandated to look at the petition cited procedural violations and legal constraints at a hearing afterwards.
“The petition runs contrary to Senate rules and cannot be entertained,” said chairman of the ethics committee senator Neda Imasuen.
He added that Uduaghan had personally signed the petition instead of having it endorsed by another individual, violating an order of the senate.
In an interview with Arise Television on Friday, Senator Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio had made inappropriate advances towards her during a visit to his residence in southern Akwa Ibom state, on 8 December 2023.
She further alleged that Akpabio had, on a separate occasion, insinuated that she should “take care of him” if she wanted her motions to receive favourable consideration in the senate.
The senator alleged that Akpabio was behaving like a university lecturer who consistently failed his student who had refused to sleep with him.
But this was denied by Akpabio.
“At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria,” he noted.
The issue has generated huge debate in Nigeria with many calling for an independent investigation.
In a social media post, one of Akpabio’s predecessors as senate president, Bukola Saraki, said the issues raised were too serious to be simply brushed aside.
Earlier on Wednesday, two groups of protesters gathered at the assembly ground in the capital, Abuja – one backing Akpabio and the other in support of his colleague, chanting ”Akpabio must go.”
Senator Uduaghan used Wednesday’s plenary session to submit the petition calling for an investigation into Akpabio’s behaviour.
As the president, it was Akpabio who allowed Uduaghan to submit the petition.
Before becoming senate president less than two years ago, Akpabio was governor of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom state for eight years and also minister of Niger Delta affairs under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
