- Says no formal petition against him
BY EDMOND ODOK – The Senate says there there is no formal petition before it to warrant any probe against the Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
According to the upper legislative Chamber, Senator Akpabio has no case to answer for now because Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, (PDP), representing Kogi Central has not lodged any formal complaint or allegation of sexual harassment.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), who addressed the issue on ARISE Television on Monday, said Akpabio can’t be probed by the Senate without a petition against him.
Adaramodu explained that there has to be a formal petition from Senator Natasha before the Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges, and Public Petitions in order to undertake any investigation of the matter.
He further stated thus; “The Senate does not conduct its affairs based on what is trending on social media. There must be a formal petition or a matter raised before the Senate before any investigation can take place.
“There is presently no formal matter before the Senate regarding these allegations. The only issue before the Senate is Senator Natasha’s non-compliance with the standing orders.”
Also, the Senate Spokesman touched on the controversy surrounding the sitting arrangement, saying Senator Natasha must submit herself to the rules of the Senate.
Citing Order 6 of the Senate rules which mandates that the Senate President assigns seats to senators, he said; “All lawmakers are expected to speak from their designated seats, and any breach of this rule undermines order in the Chamber.”
He equally dismissed the insinuation that the President of the Senate could intimidate his colleagues by denying them recognition, stressing that all Senators are equal in the chambers.
Things had gone awry when Senator Natasha alleged in an interview with ARISE Television, that Senator Akpabio made inappropriate advances towards her during a visit to his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on December 8, 2023.
She claimed that the Senate President held her hands, led her around his house, and made sexual advances towards her while her husband was trailing behind them.
The Kogi Central Senator further alleged that the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, had at another occasion, asked her to make him happy if she wanted her motions to receive favourable consideration on the floor of the Senate.
The allegations came days after the Senate had unanimously voted to refer Senator Natasha to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, for disciplinary review, sequel to her standoff with the Senate President, over sitting arrangements in the Chambers during plenary.
However, the allegations have been denied by Senator Akpabio through his media consultant, Kenny Okulogbo.
Similarly, the wife, Ekaette Akpabio, has also come out in defence of her husband, describing the allegations as unfounded and in bad taste.
