‘Dead on arrival’ – Senate rejects Natasha’s petition against Akpabio

The Senate has dismissed the petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.

The petition was deemed invalid due to procedural errors, including Akpoti-Uduaghan signing it herself, contrary to the Senate’s rules requiring it to be endorsed by another party.

At a probe session on Wednesday, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, declared the petition “dead on arrival.” He also pointed out that the issues raised were already being addressed in court, making the petition sub judice.

Despite the committee’s scheduled sitting, Akpoti-Uduaghan did not attend. The session, initially set for 2:00 PM, was delayed until 2:58 PM as the committee awaited her presence, though Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) eventually arrived at 2:50 PM. Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, did not show up.

The petition had been referred to the Ethics Committee after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public confrontation with Akpabio over her seat allocation during a plenary session.