Deborah Akinyosoye
Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, on Wednesday, dismissed a petition on sexual harassment filed by the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, announced this during a probe hearing against Akpoti-Uduaghan at the National Assembly.
Imasuen, who represents Edo South, stated that the petition was “dead on arrival,” citing a breach of Order 40 of the Senate’s Standing Order.
The lawmaker said Akpoti-Uduaghan signed the petition herself instead of having it endorsed by another individual, rendering it procedurally invalid.
He also noted that the issues raised in the petition were already in court, making them subjudice.
“The petition that she (Natasha) presented today is actually dead on arrival; it runs contrary to Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by him or herself. Since that petition was signed by her, it will not be entertained by this committee,” he said.
Despite the committee’s scheduled sitting, Akpoti-Uduaghan failed to appear before the probe panel.
The session, which was scheduled for 2 pm, did not commence until 2:58 pm when the committee’s chairman arrived after waiting for both Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu.
While Adaramodu eventually arrived at 2:50 p.m., Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent from the hearing.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Senate received a petition from the Kogi Senator accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment.
The allegation was raised during the Wednesday plenary, but Akpabio swiftly denied the claims, dismissing them as baseless.
“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,” Akpabio stressed.