Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi central, has submitted a petition alleging sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the upper legislative chamber, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Under Senate Rule 40, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that she had made comments on Arise TV regarding alleged sexual harassment by Akpabio and was presenting them as a petition to the Senate.
Akpabio requested the senator to proceed with submitting the petition, which she then did.
However, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, the senate’s chief whip, objected to the submission of the petition, arguing that the senate cannot consider Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition since the case is already in court, citing order 40, rule 7, which states that the senate should not receive or deliberate on any matter that is pending in the court of law.
Akpoti-Uduaghan countered Monguno’s argument, stating that he had misstated the order of events.
“This matter is not in court. The matter in court is a defamation against the senate president’s special assistant on social media, Patrick Mfon, who accused me of dressing indecently to the senate,” the Kogi lawmaker said.
Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele also argued against the petition being laid.
“We cannot relax our rules. This petition cannot stand. It is in court. It is defective. There is no way we can accept this petition,” Bamidele hollered.
The senate leader then moved to have the senate convene in a closed session.
