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Senate Throws Out Nathasha’s Sexual Harassment Petition Amid Clash

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedMarch 26, 2025

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions has dismissed a petition by Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.

The petition, signed by Zubairu Yakubu, a self-described concerned Nigerian citizen from Kogi Central, alleged sexual harassment, abuse of office, and obstruction of legislative duties by Akpabio.

It was first presented by Akpoti-Uduaghan on 5 March, shortly before her controversial suspension.

The Senate referred it to the ethics committee, chaired by Edo South Senator Neda Imasuen, for review.

On Tuesday, Yakubu appeared before the committee alongside his legal counsel, Abiola Akiyode, and former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili.

He, however, refused to proceed unless Akpoti-Uduaghan was allowed to be present at the National Assembly.

Yakubu accused the committee chairman of bias, citing Imasuen’s reported statement that the petition was “dead on arrival.”

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“If the chairman has already declared the petition dead before even hearing it, how can we expect fairness? One of the committee members even went on national television to claim that he was a principal witness for the Senate President. How then can we trust this process?” he asked.

Following heated exchanges between the committee members and Yakubu, the Senate panel dismissed the petition, citing the matter’s pendency in court.

This decision sparked further arguments, with Yakubu questioning why he was summoned if the committee already knew about the court case.

“If they knew the matter was in court, why did they invite me in the first place? This only confirms their bias and lack of respect for due process,” he said.

His legal counsel, Akiyode, also criticised the inconsistency in the Senate’s handling of the case.

“If the committee had already dismissed Natasha’s initial petition as ‘dead on arrival,’ why did they entertain this one, only to throw it out again? It clearly shows a lack of consistency and due process,” she stated.

As the session was drawing to a close, Ezekwesili clashed with Ebonyi North Senator, Onyekachi Nwebonyi.

The altercation began after Ezekwesili accused the committee of bias, prompting Nwebonyi to challenge her. Ezekwesili told him to “shut up,” which angered the senator.

“Why should you talk to a senator like that? You can never be a senator. You are an insult to womanhood,” Nwebonyi retorted.

Speaking to journalists after the committee adjourned indefinitely, Ezekwesili condemned the Senate’s handling of the matter, accusing it of prioritising internal rules over the Nigerian Constitution.

“The Nigerian Senate keeps telling citizens they are subject to Senate rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution. This is unacceptable in a democracy,” she said.

She argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been denied a fair hearing, contrary to constitutional provisions guaranteeing due process.

“The Senate placed its own rules above the laws of the land. Now, with this petitioner, they have done the same thing—using procedural loopholes to avoid addressing critical issues,” she added.

Ezekwesili called for an independent panel to review Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition.

“If a petitioner says they do not believe the Senate committee will give them a fair hearing due to clear bias, it is only just that an independent body reviews the matter.”

She warned that the Senate’s actions could set a dangerous precedent, where procedural rules are used to override constitutional rights.

“The Senate must respect the Constitution. Otherwise, we risk turning our democracy into a system where powerful individuals manipulate processes to silence opposition and suppress justice,” she stated.

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.