New details have emerged about a petition submitted to the Senate by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and obstructing her legislative duties.The petition, dated March 4, 2025, was officially presented to the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Akpoti-Uduaghan alleges that Akpabio made inappropriate advances toward her during a visit to his residence in Akwa Ibom on December 8, 2023, even though her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, was present. She claims Akpabio made suggestive remarks and proposed that she “spend quality time” with him.The petition also details an incident in May 2024, when Akpabio allegedly invited Akpoti-Uduaghan to his Abuja residence under the guise of discussing legislative issues. During this meeting, he reportedly said, “You know I am the Senate President; I will give you whatever you want, all you have to do is make me happy.”Akpoti-Uduaghan further claims that after rejecting Akpabio’s advances, her motion to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company was repeatedly removed from the Senate’s Order Paper.The petition also highlights an incident on the Senate floor where Akpabio allegedly referred to her as a “nightclub girl.” Though he later apologized, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintains that this was part of a larger pattern of intimidation and retaliation.Additionally, she accuses Akpabio of orchestrating her removal as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content, alleging it was connected to her support for mini-Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects in Ajaokuta, which she claims Akpabio sought to undermine in favor of projects in the Niger Delta.
The petition urges the Senate Committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations. Akpoti-Uduaghan also referred to previous sexual harassment accusations against Akpabio, including those made by Dr. Joi Nunieh, the former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in 2020.She further mentioned a heated exchange with Akpabio during a Senate plenary session on February 20, 2025, where she alleges Akpabio acted out of malice by refusing to allow her to respond to a point of order raised against her. Akpoti-Uduaghan claims that Akpabio then instructed the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove her from the Senate and suspended her.Source: SAHARA REPORTER
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