*Senator Resubmits Petition Against Akpabio
The Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions has recommended six-month suspension for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over sexual harassment allegations levelled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Senator Neda Imasuen, the chairman of the committee, made this recommendation during the plenary session on Thursday, adding that both her salary and her staff be halted during the suspension period.
Recall that the Committee had launched a probe on Senator Natasha for allegedly flouting certain orders and rules of the Senate.
While presenting the report, Senator Imaseun recommended that Natasha be suspended for 6 months, and her office be locked for the duration of the suspension.
The ethics committee also recommended that Natasha’s salaries and allowances, including those of her aides, be withdrawn; that her security details be withdrawn, and that she should be prevented from coming anywhere near the Senate premises
Meanwhile, the Senate formally cautioned Senator Natasha on Thursday over her failure to comply with the chamber’s rules mandating all senators to rise during the entry and procession of Senate leadership into the chamber.
This follows a point of order raised on the floor by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno, who cited Order 55, Rule 1 of the Senate Standing Orders, which clearly requires all senators to stand during the leadership procession.
Senator Monguno noted that Senator Natasha has repeatedly refused to observe this tradition, choosing to remain seated while the leadership makes its formal entrance into the chamber.
Highlighting that the incident was widely reported the previous day and had occurred again, Monguno explained that he had to instruct a Sergeant-at-Arms to approach Senator Natasha and remind her to stand.
However, according to him, Senator Natasha refused, stating she would not comply.
The Chief Whip criticized her actions, saying, “One cannot seek protection under Order 10 of the Senate rules while openly disregarding the same rules.”
He advised Senator Natasha to familiarize herself with the Senate rule book, emphasizing that rising during the procession is not a gesture for any individual but a sign of respect for the institution of the Senate itself.
Following the motion, the Senate sustained the point of order and upheld the call for adherence to the chamber’s established procedures.
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*Senator Natasha Resubmits Petition Against Akpabio
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has resubmitted her petition alleging sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, this time signed by her constituents.
During the plenary, Senator Natasha was asked whether the matter was already before any court of law, to which she insisted it was not.
Following protocol, she was directed to formally submit the petition, after which it was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for investigation.
The Ethics committee chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen has been given four weeks to conduct its probe and report back to the Senate.
This marks the second time the Kogi Central lawmaker has raised the allegations in the chamber following a previous petition that was dismissed on Wednesday, owing to procedural irregularities.
