Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has denied allegations that he sexually harassed Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Daily Sun reports.
He made the rebuttal at the resumption of plenary after a week recess.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had, on a popular television programme, accused Akpabio of making sexual advances at her, a reason to which she attributed her issues recently at the chamber with the senate president.
Trouble started between the duo when, on February 20, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that her seat was re-allocated without her knowledge.
Afterward, the matter was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for disciplinary review, and the committee was given two weeks to submit its report.
He said: “On the 28th day of February, there were some serious allegations making the rounds in the social media and the TV of a purported harassment of Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“While I am aware that the matters are in court, however, I would like to state clearly that at no time did I ever attempt this sexual harassment of the said Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan or any other woman.
“I and my siblings were raised very well by my late single mother who died in 2000 through very difficult times. I, therefore, have the highest regards for women. At no time did I ever harass any woman, and I will never do so,” he said.
Akpabio said that even as a State Governor, he was awarded various awards, adding: “If you wish to know, the most gender-friendly Governor in Nigeria. I served between 2007 and 2015. to the glory of God.
“In conclusion, I urge all Nigerians, particularly the media and the social media, to await the court’s decision and please do not jump into conclusion on matters of mere allegations.”
Meanwhile, the police officers deployed in the National Assembly had, earlier in the day, dispersed some protesters, believed to be Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters, from accessing the complex.
Meanwhile, the Committee on Ethics, Privilege and Public Petitions has declared the petition on alleged sexual harassment as “dead on arrival.”
The chairman of the committee, Neda Imaseun, made this statement during an investigative hearing on petitions related to alleged misconduct by Akpoti-Uduaghan and allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.
During plenary, Akpoti-Uduaghan had announced her petition, read it aloud, and submitted it, with Akpabio accepting it.
“I have a petition against the President of the Nigerian Senate, His Excellency Sen. Godswill Akpabio, for sexual harassment, abuse of office, and malicious obstruction of my legislative functions.
“You may recall, sir, that on Friday, during an Arise TV interview, I made certain statements. I have now decided to formalise those statements in a petition against the president of this senate.
“So, if it pleases you, I will humbly step forward and lay this petition.”
However, a heated debate ensued when Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Mohammed Monguno, citing Order 40(4), argued that Senate rules must be strictly followed.
Order 40(4) states: “No senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by himself.”
Monguno warned that any deviation from the rules could lead to “chaos and anarchy” and emphasised the Senate’s duty to uphold its procedural integrity.
He further noted that the matter was already sub judice, as Akpoti-Uduaghan had taken the case to court.
“And also, the wife of the senate president has equally gone to court in respect of this matter. So, this matter is subjudice. Therefore, the senate does not have to do anything to entertain this matter.”
He advised that the matter should be referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
In his remarks, Akpabio said, “The Senate actually referred to her matter not because I’m not aware of the provisions of the rules. It is because when people are watching from outside, they may not know we are guided by rules.”
Imaseun, at the investigative hearing after plenary said: “It is the procedure of this committee, as a matter of fact, the first thing we ask when the petition comes to us is whether or not that petition is before any law court. And if the answer is yes, we do not touch such petitions.
“In addition to that, our Red Book also, under Order 40, has also laid down the processes that must be followed before a petition is laid.
“If you allow me, Order 40 of our rulebook, subsection 4, says that no senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by him or herself.
”In other words, I cannot submit a petition about myself, signed by myself, that petition ought to be presented by another senator. And I’m sure that there are three senators from Kogi, as it is with other states, and that was not done.
“That report, we will not even touch it because it’s a matter before the court.
“We do not place much emphasis on this order that was presented. We are referring back to our rulebook. As I said earlier, the petition she submitted today is ‘dead on arrival.’
“I say this because it directly contradicts Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator may present a petition in the Senate that is signed by themselves.
“Since the petition was signed by her, this committee will not entertain it.”
The committee had earlier launched an investigation into the alleged disorderly conduct of Akpoti-Uduaghan during the plenary session on February 20.
The senate had referred a petition, presented by its spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu (APC-Ekiti), to the committee on February 25, mandating it to submit its report within two weeks.
The petition stemmed from the controversy surrounding a recent altercation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership over seat allocation.
Present at the hearing to make presentations were the petition’s author, Adaramodu; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Sen. Titus Zam; and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, Mr Murthar Usman.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent from the investigative hearing.
Speaking further on the alleged disorderly conduct, Imaseun said: “Ladies and gentlemen, she’s not here, now I can understand why she’s not here, she’s probably not here on the order of her lawyers.
“That being the case, the committee will sit and will deliberate on what we’ve gotten. Senators have presented their cases before us based on our rulebook and all other documents that are available to us, we shall make a decision here, and then present to the full senate,” he said.
