…Female Lawmaker Grabs Headlines As World Celebrates Women
…Nigerians Knock The Red Chamber For Her Sake
…We Flayed Her For Her Conduct, Senate Clarifies
…He’s Not Guilty, APC Defends Akpabio
As the world celebrated women on the International Women’s Day on Saturday, there was a particular name on the lips of almost everyone in Nigeria: Natasha.
In the last one week, the allegation of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has topped media contents in the country.
The storm that followed her eventual suspension from the Senate for six month is threatening political structures in Abuja.
Lawyers, activists, politicians and clerics have come hard on the Senators for bringing the Nigerian Senate and the National Assembly to opprobrium by their actions over the altercation between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
It would be recalled that the Senate, popularly called the Red Chamber, the upper legislative arm of the National Assembly, has in recent time being in turmoil over change of seating arrangement and sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President Godswll Akpabio, by serving Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
APC DEFENDS AKPABIO
The All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend defended the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio on the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he’s behind the travail of Udom Emmanuel, the former governor of Akwa-Ibom state.
The PDP had on Friday alerted of plots by Akpabio to smear Emmanuel, adding that it has already been made aware of a well-oiled scheme reportedly engineered by him to compromise a section of the media to engage in smear campaign through circulation of falsehood, misrepresentations and unsubstantiated allegations of corruption against the former governor of Akwa Ibom state.
APC, in a statement by its spokesman, Felix Morka, said it is rather comical that the PDP thinks itself capable of being discredited, when it knows quite well there is absolutely nothing left of it that can be discredited, even by the most strenuous effort.
“The PDP has done a fantastic job of stripping itself bare of purpose and prestige, and needs no help from anyone, certainly not in the calibre of the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly,” the APC said.
The party said that the PDP offered no iota of information to substantiate its madcap allegation, adding, “to be clear, the President of the Senate has no involvement in any smear campaign or in instigating the country’s anti-graft agencies against Udom Emmanuel.
SENATE’S CLARIFICATION
The Senate on Saturday explained that contrary to reports making the rounds, it actually suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP; Kogi Central) for flagrant abuse of its standing orders.
A statement by the leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC; Ekiti Central), alleged that the viral misinforming reports in public space were “deliberate”, adding that the false narratives were being circulated by certain media organisations.
The three-page statement said that contrary to the case of alleged victimisation arising from the embattled lawmaker`s accusation of sexual harassment against the Senate President, she was suspended due to “flagrant disobedience to Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended) and her unparliamentary behaviour during its plenaries and proceedings.
“Contingent on the report of its Committee on Ethics and Privileges, the Senate had suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct and refusal to comply with its sitting arrangement during the plenary.
The Senate upheld her suspension with a proviso that if Akpoti-Uduaghan “submits a written apology, the leadership of the chamber may consider lifting the suspension before the six-month period expires.”
Senator Bamidele further stated that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, rather than submitting to the Authority of the Senate, she had been misinforming the unsuspecting public that she was suspended because she accused the senate president of sexual harassment.
This is as the statement clarified that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition on sexual harassment failed to meet the clear and established procedural requirements for submitting petitions to the Senate.
“It has come to the attention of the Senate that some media reports are attempting to falsely suggest that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was due to allegations of sexual harassment.
“This is completely untrue, misleading, and a calculated attempt to distort the facts. If Akpoti-Uduaghan had strictly followed our guiding principles, the Senate would have treated her petition based on merit in line with its practice. But she never obeyed the established practices of the institution where she was serving,” the statement said.
Specifically, the statement revealed that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was “a decision of the Committee of the Whole Senate, following the submission of a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges,” part of the statement read.
The statement noted that the report found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of violating Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended) and recommended her immediate suspension.
STAYING CLOSE TO THE FACTS
While thanking some media organisations for their culture of objective reporting, the statement urged the media not to distort facts to suit a false narrative expressing dissatisfaction with an attempt to politicise a disciplinary action that was strictly based on clear violations of Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended).
It added, “This coordinated misinformation campaign is nothing more than an attempt to politicise a disciplinary action that was strictly based on clear violations of Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended).
“It is reckless, misleading, and a disservice to the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who deserve truthful and factual reporting.
“We, therefore, urge all foreign correspondents and responsible media houses to correct these misrepresentations and avoid propagating falsehoods that undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process.”
TRAGIC EXPOSE OF GOVERNANCE
Regardless, Barrister Onyinye Gandhi-Chukwunyere, an activist and human rights lawyer, one of those who spoke to Sunday Independent on the issue, said the entire episode was a tragic expose on the poor quality of governance in the country.
Barrister Ghandi-Chukwunyere, the official spokesperson of Omoyele Sowore, the National Leader of African Action Congress (AAC), lamented: “At a time the Nigerian people are struggling to survive the economic burdens imposed by the Bola Tinubu government, the head of the Senate is embroiled in a laughable controversy over his alleged unbridled libidinous engagements with another senator.
“While we do not want to belittle the gravity of Senator Udiaghan’s allegations, and certainly condemn all forms of sexual harassment and exploitation, we believe the business of addressing the welfare and security of the Nigerian people should be pre-eminent on the agenda of the Nigerian Senate.
“By the way, Akpabio has been a horrible senator of our Republic. He has been terrible at his job, and has shamefully served as a mere rubber stamp for the disastrous policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Tinubu government.
“Because of his lacklustre performance on the job, it is likely that when he leaves that position, he will be remembered more for his licentious cravings than for any meaningful legislative landmark for the Nigerian people.”
Barrister Emeka Iheonu, a Lagos lawyer and a member of African Bar Association (ABA), stated: “The Senate suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, after she submitted a petition alleging that she had been sexually harassed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“After dismissing her petition on procedural grounds, the Ethics Committee recommended Uduaghan’s suspension, saying she had brought ridicule to the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.
“I believe that throwing out the petition due to wrong procedure and suspending her was not the right thing to do.
“She should have been allowed to submit another petition, if it was compulsory that someone else should have petitioned and signed on her behalf.
“The petition has to be properly investigated before a decision is taken. I do not believe that her plan was to ridicule the Senate generally, or the Senate President in particular.
“Her allegation would have been properly investigated before the suspension and other decisions were taken.
“Furthermore, Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) stipulates that the Senate may suspend a member, but such suspension shall not exceed a period of 14 legislative days.
“This temporal limitation prevents the arbitrary exercise of disciplinary measures that may otherwise undermine the democratic mandate conferred upon elected representatives.
“The suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan beyond this constitutionally prescribed period is a contravention of our grand norm.
“The Standing Rules of the Senate (2015) in Order 67 provides procedures for addressing matters of privilege and disciplinary actions.
“While the Rules empower the Senate to maintain order and discipline among its members, these provisions must be interpreted alongside the constitutional limitations.
“Order 67(4) acknowledges the Senate’s power to impose disciplinary measures, but this authority remains subject to constitutional constraints, particularly the 14-day limitation on suspensions.”
Barrister Blessing Joseph Afang, a human rights lawyer and activist, said the Senate’s decision to dismiss Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio raises serious concerns.
Barrister Afang, President, the International Human Rights Protection Service Florida, USA, Nigeria Chapter (IHRPS/F), stated: “While procedural rules were cited as the basis for rejection, the swift dismissal without deeper deliberation or proper investigation sends a troubling message about how such allegations are handled at the highest levels of governance.
“It underscores the structural challenges women face in politics and reinforces the perception of institutional bias.
“Rather than dismissing the petition outright, the Senate should have ensured a fair hearing, demonstrating that allegations of misconduct -especially against leaders – are taken seriously and not brushed aside on technicalities.
“The allegation of sexual harassment is far beyond violations of procedural rules.
“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan deserves fair hearing and all the protection against intimidation.”
Hon. Dennis Adikwuru, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Imo State, said: “Honestly speaking, the integrity of the Senate is at stake and by extension, Nigeria and its democracy.
“The Senate President Akpabio is always caught in the web of sexual harassment even during his ministerial era, an embarrassing scenario that seems to have endured.
“But notwithstanding, the Senate, as an institution, has to protect, defend, preserve and restore the integrity of our democracy, even if Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has incontrovertible evidence and exhibits.
“This is the sorry situation of the whole thing and the Senate President appears clean, even when he is not, for, ‘The king does not sin and never found guilty’.”
Professor John Ebhomien, an All Progressives Congress (AC) chieftain, stated: “The imbroglio between Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is a sad commentary and the least expected.
“This unfortunate incident has been blown out of proportion. Obviously, I can understand the feeling from both sides.
“But, something should be done urgently by the families and friends of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to put the matter to rest.”
A TRAUMATISED SENATE PRESIDENT
The man in the eye of the storm, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on Saturday, said Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had traumatised him and others with her allegation.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, have cautioned the Senate against making the political atmosphere toxic for women.
Major opposition parties in the country have also expressed outrage over the manner in which the complaint was handled.
But Akpabio maintained his innocence, saying none of what she alleged was true. (Daily Independent)
