On Monday, March 10, the former minister of education, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, wrote an urgent letter to the leadership of the Nigerian Senate regarding the six-month suspension slammed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative for Kogi Central.
Senate President Akpabio must step aside – Ezekwesili
Legit.ng recalls that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months for violating the Senate Standing Rules 2023 (as amended).
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of making sexual advances toward her during a visit to his home in Akwa Ibom.
The controversy arose after an earlier dispute over Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seating arrangement in the Senate, which escalated into a heated exchange.
Reacting, Ezekwesili, in a post shared on her X page on Monday, called on the Senate President to step aside for investigation.
Former minister Ezekwesili makes key demands from Senate
Ezekwesili listed other actions the Senate led by Akpabio should take to address the controversies surrounding the Red Chamber;
1. The Senate President steps aside and the Deputy Senate President @NGRSenate immediately convenes a session that rescinds the unconstitutional and illegal suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and reverses all punitive measures imposed on her so she resumes her duties as a duly elected Senator representing her Kogi Central constituency and gets the Fair Hearing due her within Senate Processes.
2. Cognizant that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has not sued for criminal charges in any court but has resubmitted her original Petition on the Sexual Harassment she alleges against @Senator_Akpabio, the Senate presided over by the Deputy Senate President should take swift actions on the following this week:
A. Resolve and announce that a prompt Independent Investigation into the resubmitted Petition by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is imperative and swiftly request @icpcnigeria to designate the Independent Investigation consistent with the ICPC Act which designates Sexual Harassment as one of the corrupt practices it can investigate and prosecute.
B. Reconstitute the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee under a new Chairperson with the mandate to commence a Public Hearing on the resubmitted Petition on Sexual Harassment by the Senate President @Senator_Akpabio.
C. The Committee receives informed recommendations from the Independent Investigation by ICPC-appointed investigator and appearances/oral and written testimonies and evidences from the two parties to the matter- Senators Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio respectively.
3. The Senate in Plenary receives the Report- Findings and Recommendations of the Ethics Committee, debates and refers the matter to the Attorney General as may be appropriate.
On ALL the Actions, the Senate must prioritize Justice, Public Accountability, Transparency, Full Disclosure, Due Process and Supremacy of Public Interest.
6. The Ministry of Women Affairs and Women in Nigeria groups collaborate on a massive Behavioral Change and Transforming Regressive Norms Against Women campaign for leaders in public and private sectors and Nigerian citizens at large.
“We are incredibly inspired by the courage and strength of the irrepressible Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.”
Natasha vs Akpabio: Remi Tinubu speaks
In another report, Oluremi Tinubu, the first lady of Nigeria, said that the Senate is a “matured” institution and should therefore be respected.
The president’s wife was commenting on the sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Akpabio.
Tinubu, a three-time member of the Senate, spoke on the need for women to assert themselves in leadership positions. She encouraged women to “raise themselves” and not allow men to speak to them disrespectfully.
