The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions has officially dismissed a petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
The decision was announced by Committee Chairman Senator Neda Imasuen during a probe hearing held at the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Senator Imasuen declared the petition “dead on arrival,” citing procedural irregularities under Order 40 of the Senate Standing Order.
He pointed out that the petition was signed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan herself, which is in violation of the order that requires petitions to be endorsed by another individual.
This procedural breach rendered the petition invalid according to Senate regulations.
Furthermore, Senator Imasuen noted that the issues raised in the petition were already subject to legal proceedings, rendering them subjudice and inappropriate for consideration by the committee.
“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,” Senator Imasuen stated during the hearing.
Despite the scheduled session, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan did not appear before the probe panel.
The session, originally set for 2 pm, commenced late at 2:58 pm due to the delayed arrival of both Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu.
While Adaramodu arrived at 2:50 pm, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was notably absent.
Earlier in the day, the Nigerian Senate had received the petition from Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, which accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment.
The allegations sparked a heated exchange during the Senate plenary session, where Akpabio vehemently denied the claims, asserting his lifelong commitment to respecting women and citing previous accolades for gender-friendly governance.
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