Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has refiled her petition accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—this time with signatures from her constituents.
During Thursday’s plenary, she was asked whether the case was already in court, to which she responded that it was not. Following standard procedure, the petition was formally submitted and referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for investigation. The committee has four weeks to review the claims and present its findings.
This is the second time Akpoti-Uduaghan has raised the allegations in the Senate after her initial petition was dismissed on procedural grounds.
Before the session began, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Munguno raised concerns over what he described as Senator Natasha’s repeated disregard for chamber protocols. He cited Order 55, Rule 1, which mandates senators to remain standing until the presiding officer takes their seat.
“I had to send one of the Sergeants-at-Arms to inform her that she was in breach of the rule,” Munguno stated. “Mr. President, if you are seeking refuge under Order 10 of the rule book, then you cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time. It is the institution that she is disrespecting.”
Addressing her directly, he urged compliance: “Senator Natasha, as my good friend and colleague, please ensure you comply and do not continue breaching the rules.”
