In response to a sexual harassment accusation against Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio, the Nigerian Senate on Thursday suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months.
The suspension came when the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions’ chairman reported to the Committee of the Whole that there were many violations of the Senate’s Rules and Orders.
The female legislator was allowed to convey her side of the story during the committee’s probe on Wednesday, according to the committee’s chairman, Senator Imasuen Neda Bernards, who represents the Edo South Senatorial District.
He gave a detailed account of the committee’s investigation hearing, stating that, in accordance with the committee’s mission, testimony was obtained to determine whether or not the respondent’s accusation was true.
In violation of the pertinent articles of the Senate’s Rules and Orders, Senator Neda remembered that the respondent produced “chaos and a rowdy session” on Wednesday of last week when she refused to take a seat that was given to her and started a screaming fight.
When Senator Raphael Adeyemi Adaramodu went before the panel on Wednesday to defend his petition against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, he testified to the regrettable incident, he said.
The Committee Chairman insisted that when a petition against Senator Natasha was sent to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, she was formally invited for an inquiry.
In his remarks, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho, who represents the Ondo South Senatorial District, expressed his disapproval of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions and emphasised the importance of preserving the Senate as an institution.
Jimoh said: “This institution is not about an individual. We have rules to regulate our activities.
“If we breach our own rules, the executive will not come here to enforce them, and I must commend the committee for the succinct report to the Senate.”
Citing the Constitution, Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno insisted that “it is only in the animal kingdom that there are no rules and regulations,” arguing that since the Senate would outlast everyone, its norms must be upheld.
On February 20, 2025, Senator Bassey Aniekun Etim bemoaned, “I agree with all the issues raised in the report, so I watched with disappointment the shouting, the screaming.”
Abba Moro, the Senate Minority Leader, said his statement represented the views of the PDP senators in the Senate and begged for leniency and a mitigating measure.
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In pleading for mercy, Moro recommended a three-month suspension, which he said was enough for the embattled lawmaker to realize her mistakes. He further argued that Nigerians are watching and seeing them as statesmen; hence, nothing should be done to bring disrepute to the chamber.
After contributions were made by some Senators from the dominant and minority parties, Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio, in his remarks, said, “The Senator we are talking about is the wife of my very close friend and brother.
“On the day of her marriage, I slept in their house in the year 2020, and when I was to leave, I missed my flight at Obajana Airstrip and I slept again at Dangote Cement,” he said.
The suspension for six months was sustained by the Senate President after a voice vote.
The resolutions include that she will surrender all National Assembly properties, her security details will be withdrawn, and the Sergeant-at-Arms will seal her office immediately so that she will not have access to it.
