Following her interview with Arise News where she been make some allegations against di senate president Godswill Akpabio, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan don officially submit petition against di senate president to support her allegations against him.
According to di senator representing Kogi central, this petition fall under Order 40 of di senate rules wey state sey, “na senator fit present di petition to di senate and di senator go out his/her name for di beginning of di petition”.
After quoting di order, Akpoti-Uduaghan continue to read out her petition to di hearing of her colleagues.
“Di petition dey in my name against di president of di senate, Godswill Akpabio for sexual harassment, abuse of office and malicious obstruction of my legislative functions.
You may recall sir, sey on Friday I been make some statements for Arise News and I don decide to narrow them in a formal petition against di president of this senate.
So if it may please you, I will come forward and lay di petition.”
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Petitions Senate President Akpabio Over Sexual Harassment, Abuse of Office pic.twitter.com/qKVaIUt6UD
— Africa Independent Television (@AIT_Online) March 5, 2025
Lawmakers reject petition submitted by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
After her submission, a few of her colleagues been raise questions to object di petition.
Senate chief whip, Mohammed Tahir Monguno talk sey di senate no fit accept di petition because di case dey court already.
Tahir go ahead to quote order 40, rule 7 sey “di senate should not receive or deliberate on any matter to which actions are pending in di court of law”.
Responding to di objections, Akpoti-Uduaghan reject di point wey Monguno raise, she talk sey di chief whip Fe mix things up.
“Di matter no dey court. Di matter wey dey court na defamation against di senate president’s special assistant on social media, Patrick Mfon, who been accuse me of indecent dressing in di senate.
Another lawmaker wey object Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition na senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, him talk sey, “we no fit relax our rules. This petition no fit stand. E dey court. E dey defective. We no fit accept this petition”.
After hearing from both sides of di argument, di senate president move to close di session.