Ex-education minister seeks independent probe into Natasha Akpoti’s petition against Akpabio

• Recall that the Kogi Central Senator was referred to the committee to over her alleged misconduct following a face-off with the Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seating arrangement in the chamber.
• The controversy took a new twist days later when Senator Natasha accused Senaotr Akpabio of sexual harassment, abuse of office, among others.

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has urged the senate not to disregard the petition submitted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, an allegation that Akpabio has categorically denied.

On Wednesday, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed the petition, declaring it inadmissible from the outset.

Ezekwesili stated in a Thursday post on her X page that disregarding the allegation would be detrimental to the senate’s integrity.

She emphasised that the petition must be addressed through a public hearing, where the accused would not preside over the proceedings.

“Our national assembly which comprises the senate and house of representatives belongs to the Nigerian people and not to politicians of any stripe and status,” Ezekwesili said.

“This is why the national assembly is called a public institution. No individual nor collection of individuals and their groups can capture a public institution and use to their personal benefit or advantage.”

“Whenever a situation as the one involving Senators Natasha Akpoti and Akpabio occurs, the lawmakers must understand the Nigerian public want transparency and full disclosure.”

“Dismissing a serious accusation against the senate president just like the senators irresponsibly did yesterday is a democratic aberration. It cannot stand. Never.”

“What happened yesterday in the senate chamber where a senate president presided over a grave matter involving him, was farcical and a blot on our democracy.”

“It is in our public interest that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition be urgently given the seriousness it deserves to defend the institutional integrity of our senate.”

The Senate Ethics Committee has also recommended a six-month suspension for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following her heated argument with the senate president over seating arrangements.