The Nigerian Senate has decided to stop looking into a sexual harassment complaint made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. This decision was made by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
The chairman of the committee, Senator Neda Imaseun, explained that the petition did not follow Senate rules. According to him, Natasha signed the petition herself, which is not allowed. He also said the petition did not have an address, making it invalid.
What Happened During the Meeting?
During the meeting, Natasha’s lawyer, Abiola Akiode, accused the committee chairman of being unfair and asked him to step down. However, Senator Imaseun refused, saying that the entire Senate was already aware of the case and there was no need for a new committee to handle it.
Senator Imaseun also said the case was already in court, and according to Senate rules, they cannot discuss a matter that is being handled by a judge. Because of this, the Senate closed the case and said it would no longer be discussed in the Senate.
What’s Next?
Even though the Senate has rejected her petition, Senator Natasha is not giving up. She has now taken legal action against Senate President Akpabio and Senator Imaseun, accusing them of acting against the law by suspending her.
This means the matter is now in the hands of the courts, and a judge will decide what happens next.
