The Senate, on Thursday, suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghen for six months over violation of its rules.
Her suspension followed her dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who she accused of sexual harassment.
While reading out the recommendations of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct probing her claims, Akpabio said: ‘That the Senate do suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of the Senate Standing Rules (2023 as amended for bringing the presiding officer and the entire Nigerian Senate to public opprobrium’.
Despite efforts by some senators to reduce the suspension period to three months, the chamber, in a majority vote, sustained the initial decision.
However, the lawmakers ruled that the suspension could be lifted or reduced if she tenders a written apology.
‘For the Senate to consider lifting this suspension or reducing the tenure of the suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan shall submit a written apology to the Senate before her reconsideration by the Nigerian Senate’, Akpabio said at the Red Chambers on Thursday.
Following her suspension, the Kogi Central lawmaker was escorted out of the chambers by the Sergeant-At-Arms, but before she left she declared that ‘this injustice would not be sustained’.
Her suspension was recommended by the committee, which found her guilty of a violation of the Senate’s rules after its investigation.
The Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker’s suspension is the culmination of weeks of claims and counter-claims between her, Akpabio, and the Senate.
This controversy began on 20 February, after a seating arrangement dispute with Akpabio. Thereafter, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the Senate president of sexual harassment and alleged abuse of office.
She submitted a petition on the floor of the upper lawmaking body on Wednesday. But the Senate Committee on Public Conduct, Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, headed by Senator Neda Imaseun (Edo South) dismissed her claims. It declared her petition ‘dead on arrival’, owing to what it described as a breach of due process and legal limitations.
According to the committee, the Senator personally signed the petition, instead of getting someone else’s endorsement, thus rendering it “invalid”.
Barely a day after that, Akpoti-Uduaghan re-submitted her petition. However, on the same day, the Imasuen-led committee recommended her suspension for the violation of the Senate rule, a move ratified by the Red Chambers.
It recommended that in addition to her six-month suspension, the Kogi Central lawmaker suggested locking her office, stopping her from the National Assembly during the suspension, and stoppage of her salary and that of her legislative aides.
