The Senate has thrown out a petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, citing procedural flaws and legal constraints.
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Senator Neda Imasuen, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, announced the decision during a probe session on Wednesday. He explained that the petition was considered “dead on arrival” due to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s failure to meet the requirements outlined in the Senate Standing Orders, including obtaining the endorsement of another senator. Additionally, the matter was already the subject of legal proceedings, further complicating the petition’s viability.
According to Senator Neda Imasuen, the committee’s investigation faced delays as Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to attend the scheduled hearing at 2:00 PM. However, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, who was also invited, arrived at 2:50 PM.
The dispute originated from allegations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan, who accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, claiming he had persistently targeted her after she rejected his advances. The claims stirred debates within the Senate, leading to a formal petition and a subsequent directive from Akpabio for the Ethics Committee to investigate.
During deliberations, Adaramodu criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan’s approach, stating that publicly challenging the Senate President had tarnished the institution’s reputation.
