- The Kogi lawmaker said the newly submitted petition was filed by her constituents, led by one Zubairu Yakubu
The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has re-presented a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Some senators had objected to the submission of Natasha’s petition on Wednesday, citing violation of the legislative body rules. The petition was then subsequently rejected by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions.
But the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs resubmitted the petition during Thursday plenary.
Speaking during the submission of the petition, the Kogi lawmaker said the newly submitted petition was filed by her constituents, led by one Zubairu Yakubu.
Following the presentation, Senate President Akpabio asked whether there were any legal hindrances to accepting the petition and she responded that there were none.
Thereafter, the Senate President instructed her to formally lay the petition before the Senate and was subsequently referred to the Ethics committee led by Senator Neda Imasuen, with a directive to report back to the plenary within four weeks after legislative review.
Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan had presented a petition of sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio during Wednesday plenary, which sparked controversy.
The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), had raised a point of order, citing Senate Standing Order 40.
He argued that the matter could not be considered by the Ethics Committee, as it was sub judice due to an ongoing court case involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the Senate President.
Monguno also contended that the petition could not be considered since Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed it.
As a result, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed the petition, declaring it “dead on arrival.”
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