Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Sexual Harassment: Senate Dismisses Natasha’s Petition, Kogi Senator Shuns Panel

The Senate dismissed a sexual harassment petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, with the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions declaring it dead on arrival for violating Senate Standing Rules that prohibit a senator from self-submitting a petition and handling matters already before a court of law. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who skipped the committee hearing after her legal team secured a Federal High Court interim injunction directing the National Assembly to show cause against the disciplinary proceedings, previously accused the Senate President of making sexual advances and conditioning legislative approvals on personal favors—allegations that Senator Akpabio strongly denied as false and baseless. Meanwhile, the political fallout drew mixed public reactions, featuring a peaceful protest by supporters demanding the Senate President's resignation alongside an open letter from the Kogi Central Concerned Stakeholders distancing themselves from the lawmaker's actions and criticizing the escalation of the dispute.

YAKUBU, Dirisu, Habib, Gift, Zakariyau, Abdulrahman & Musa, Deborah | 3. National Assembly-Sexual Harassment petition- Nigeria 2. Women legislators--Nigeria | Punch Newspaper | Thursday, March 06, 2025