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ABUSE OF Of OFFICE: NATASHA FORMALLY PETITIONS AKPABIO, SENATE PRESIDENT DENIES HARASSING AKPOTI
Natasha: Distinguished colleagues, I am Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and I stand to raise a petition under Order 40: “A petition may only be presented to the Senate by a Senator who shall affix his or her name at the beginning thereof.’
The petition is in my name against the President of the Nigerian Senate, His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio for sexual harassment, abuse of office and malicious obstruction of my legislative functions. You may recall Sir on Friday, on Arise TV, I did make some statements and I have decided to narrow these statements in a formal petition against the President of this Senate, so if it may please you, I will humbly step forward and lay this petition.
Akpabio: You may proceed
Meanwhile, Akpabio has denied allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpabio reacted to the allegations on Wednesday at the resumption of plenary in the Senate, after a week’s recess.
Dismissing the allegations, Akpabio said, “At no time did I ever harass any woman.
“I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women.
“I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria.”
However, immediately after Akpabio’s remarks, Akpoti-Uduaghan raised a petition under Order 40, accusing the Senate President of sexual harassment and abuse of office.
The female lawmaker requested permission to step forward and formally lay the petition before the chamber.
The Senate, eventually referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, directing it to review the matter as soon as practicable.
