The Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months amid the sexual harassment allegation she levied against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions had earlier today recommended her suspension. At plenary to consider the recommendations of the Committee, the Senators, in a majority voice vote, upheld the six months suspension.
“That the Senate do suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of the Senate Standing Rules (2023 as amended) for bringing the presiding Officer and the entire Nigerian Senate to public opprobrium,” Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said while reading out the recommendations of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct who probed her claims of sexual harassment. During this period of suspension, the committee recommended that her salary and security details be withdrawn.
The committee also recommended the Senator should not be seen anywhere around the National Assembly during the six months suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension stems from the controversy surrounding her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The dispute began when Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, formally accused Akpabio of misconduct including sexual harassment, submitting a petition before the Senate.
Despite efforts by some Senators to reduce the suspension period to three months, the Senate, in a majority vote, sustained the initial decision.
However, the lawmakers ruled that the suspension could be lifted or reduced if she tenders a written apology.
“For the Senate to consider lifting this suspension or reducing the tenure of the suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan shall submit a written apology to the Senate before her reconsideration by the Nigerian Senate,” Akpabio said.
Following her suspension, the Kogi Central lawmaker was escorted out of the chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms, but before she left she declared that “this injustice would not be sustained”.
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