Senate Committee Discards Sexual Harassment Petition Against Akpabio, Citing Procedural Issues
Senate Committee Discards Sexual Harassment Petition Against Akpabio, Citing Procedural Issues
A petition alleging sexual harassment and abuse of office, filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has been dismissed by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
The petition was initially presented by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a Senate plenary session and subsequently referred to the committee for investigation. Senate President Akpabio, while presiding, instructed the committee to report its findings “as soon as practicable,” deviating from the Senate’s typical practice of setting specific deadlines for committee investigations.
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However, the committee, led by Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo South), declared the petition “dead on arrival,” citing a technical violation of Senate rules. Senator Imasuen stated that the petition breached Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders, which prohibits senators from presenting petitions signed by themselves. He explained that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had signed the petition, rendering it procedurally invalid.
Furthermore, Senator Imasuen noted that the matters raised in the petition were already subject to ongoing legal proceedings, making them sub judice.
The committee made these pronouncements during a scheduled hearing concerning allegations of misconduct against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. She did not attend the hearing, reportedly in compliance with a court order.
