BREAKING: Senate Committee Rejects Fresh Sexual Harassment Petition Against Akpabio

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions led by Senator Neda Imasuen, on Tuesday, refused to hear a fresh petition on sexual harassment levelled against President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio

The petition was written by Mr Zubairu Yakubu, from Kogi Central Senatorial District

Yakubu appeared before the Committee in company with a former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, who appeared as a witness and his lawyer, Abiola Akiyode.

The Committee ruled that it could not sit on the petition in view of a pending case filed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by Unoma Akpabio, wife of the President of the Senate.

Senator Imasuen, who cited the Senate rules, noted that the practice of the Red Chamber was to reject petitions on any matter pending before the Court.

Speaking with journalists after the Senate Committee adjourned indefinitely, Ezekwesili accused the Senate of violating the Nigerian Constitution.

She maintained that the Senate Rule cited was not superior to the Constitution.

“The Nigerian Senate keeps telling citizens they are subject to Senate rules, even when those rules violate the Constitution. This is unacceptable in a democracy.”

She  further argued that the embattled Kogi Central lawmaker was denied fair hearing in clear breach of provisions of the Constitution.

“The Senate placed its own rules above the laws of the land. Now, with this petitioner, they have done the same thing—using procedural loopholes to avoid addressing critical issues.”

The former Education Minister insisted that the Senate Committee has shown bias and called for an independent panel to review Senate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition.

Yakubu, too, expressed disappointment over the objection by the Committee to his request that the Kogi Central senator who has been axed for six months by the Senate be allowed to testify before the panel as principal witness.

He noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan was in custody of  crucial documentary evidence to support her  claims, but she was barred from entering the National Assembly to testify.

He said, “In my petition, I clearly stated that my witness would present her evidence personally. But she was not allowed into the premises. If my key witness is denied access, how can I proceed with my case?”

Legal adviser to the petitioner, Dr. Abiola Akinyode equally, raised concerns about inconsistencies in the Senate’s handling of petitions.

“There is nothing in Yakubu’s petition that was not in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s original petition. If the Senate dismissed her petition as ‘dead on arrival,’ then logically, Yakubu’s should also be dismissed.

“The Senate seems to be operating under its own rules, separate from the Constitution. That is why they can suspend a senator for six months without following due process.”