Senate leaders deny suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio sexu@l harassment.
Senate leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said in a statement issued on Saturday, March 8 that the House of Lords suspended Senator Natasha, who specifically targeted Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Permanent Order, blatantly disobeyed Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of 2023 (amended) and her non-governmental conduct during her plenary and meeting ceremonies.
Recall that the Senate suspended a six-month suspension Thursday, March 6, on Senator Natasha.
Bamidele said Akpoti-uduaghan did not succumb to the power of the Senate and misled the unsuspecting public for accusing Senate President Sexu@l of harassment. He clarified that the disciplinary action against Akpoti-uduaghan was undoubtedly a reaction to her repeated violations of legislative etiquette.
He further clarified that Akpoti-uduaghan’s petition on sexual harassment failed to meet the clear and established procedural requirements for filing a petition to the Senate.
The declaration partially reads
“The Senate has attracted attention and some media reports have tried to mislead Akpoti-uduaghan’s suspension was due to allegations of harassment by sexu@l.
This is totally untrue, misleading, and a computational attempt to distort the facts. If Akpoti-uduaghan strictly follows our guiding principles, the Senate will treat her petition based on the merits of its practice. But she never complies with the established behavior of the institutions she serves. ”
Bamidel said the chairman of the Senate Senate Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petition Committee submitted a report that Senator Akputi-Udoahhan’s moratorium was “a decision of the entire Senate committee.”
He said the report found that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been liable for violating Articles 6.1 and 6.2 of the 2023 Senate Permanent Order and recommended that she be suspended immediately.
As established by the Senate Ethics Committee, Code of Conduct and Public Petition Committee findings, the statement notes that disciplinary action is “response to repeated violations of legislative etiquette by Akpoti-uduaghan: as follows:
“Despite multiple pleas from minority leaders and other senators, refusing to sit in her designated seat during the plenary session on February 25, 2025, is an act of open resistance and misconduct.
On February 25, 2025, it was clearly violated by parliamentary practices and procedures and was not recognized by the host.
Engaging in unruly and destructive behaviors that hinder orderly conduct in Senate litigation. Abusive and disrespectful remarks made to the leadership of the Senate.
Violation and refusal to comply with the subpoena of the Senate Ethics Committee, Code of Conduct and Public Petition Committee, demanding investigation of cases of misconduct. ”
Bamidele noted that these actions represent direct challenges to Senate power and violate the 2023 Senate Order that manages Senate business and its actions without any exception.
He insisted that disciplinary measures must be necessary, necessary, and justified in restoring order and maintaining the integrity of the Senate as the country’s foremost democratic institution.
“In contrast to the false claims circulated, Akpoti-uduaghan was not suspended for any sexual harassment or filing of a petition. Her petition was correctly discounted because it failed to meet the explicit and established procedural requirements for filing a petition to the Senate.
The rules of the Senate apply to all members, without exception, and if due process is not followed, a petition on their subject may be considered.
The suggestion that her suspension is related to her petition is not only a distortion of facts, but also a deliberate and malicious attempt to mislead the public,” Bamiddle said.
While thanking some media organizations for their objective reporting culture, the statement urges the media not to distort facts to fit false narratives.
He expressed dissatisfaction and attempted to politicize disciplinary action, which was strictly based on a clear violation of the Senate Permanent Order 2023 (revised).
“This coordinated misinformation campaign is nothing more than an attempt to politicize disciplinary actions strictly based on Senate Permanent Order 2023 (Revised).
This is reckless, misleading, damage to the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who deserves real and factual reports. Therefore, we urge all foreign correspondents and responsible media houses to correct these false statements and avoid spreading falsehoods that undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process. ” He said
