Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has resubmitted a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio after her earlier petition was rejected by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions.
Details of the Resubmission
On Thursday, during plenary, Akpoti-Uduaghan presented a new petition, this time filed by her constituents, led by Zubairu Yakubu. Speaking during the submission, Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that the petition was supported by her constituents.
After her presentation, Senate President Akpabio inquired if there were any legal obstacles to accepting the petition, to which Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed that there were none. Subsequently, Akpabio instructed her to formally lay the petition before the Senate.
Referral to the Ethics Committee
Following the submission, the petition was referred to the Senate Ethics Committee, led by Senator Neda Imasuen, with a directive for the committee to report back within four weeks after reviewing the petition.
Earlier Controversy
This move comes after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s previous petition was rejected on Wednesday by the Senate Ethics Committee. During that session, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North) raised a point of order under Senate Standing Order 40, arguing that the matter was sub judice, as it was already before the court due to an ongoing case involving Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the Senate President. Monguno also claimed that the petition could not be accepted as it was personally signed by Akpoti-Uduaghan, violating Senate rules.
As a result, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed the petition, deeming it “dead on arrival”. However, the new petition, supported by her constituents, has now been formally accepted and referred for further review.
