|By Adejumo Adekunle-
- Ethics Panel Indicts Female Senator for Disrupting Senate Proceedings
- Lawmakers Debate Length of Suspension Amid Calls for Leniency
- Senate President: ‘She’s My Friend’s Wife, But Rules Must Be Upheld’
The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months following her allegation of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The suspension stemmed from a report presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, Senator Imasuen Neda Bernards, which detailed multiple violations of Senate rules. Submitting the findings to the Committee of the Whole, the panel accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of breaching parliamentary decorum.
During the committee’s hearing on Wednesday, the embattled lawmaker was given the chance to present her defense. According to Senator Neda, testimonies were collected to verify the veracity of the allegation, ensuring due process was followed.
Recounting previous disruptions, the Ethics Committee Chair noted that the senator had triggered chaos in the chamber last week by rejecting her assigned seat and engaging in a heated exchange, flouting Senate protocols. Supporting this claim, Senator Raphael Adeyemi Adaramodu testified before the panel, affirming her disruptive conduct.
Other lawmakers weighed in on the matter, emphasizing the need to uphold the Senate’s integrity. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho stressed that the legislative body must protect its rules, warning that failure to do so could undermine its authority. Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno echoed this stance, asserting that “only in the animal kingdom do rules not exist.”
Senator Bassey Aniekun Etim expressed disappointment over the incident, recalling how the February 20 session descended into disorder. Meanwhile, Minority Leader Abba Moro pleaded for leniency, suggesting a three-month suspension instead, arguing that lawmakers must uphold their statesman-like image before Nigerians.
Despite debates over the penalty, Senate President Akpabio upheld the six-month suspension through a voice vote. He acknowledged his personal ties to Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing her as the wife of his close friend, yet maintained that Senate regulations must prevail.
Following the resolution, the embattled senator is required to relinquish all National Assembly properties, forfeit her security details, and vacate her office, which will be sealed off by the Sergeant-at-Arms.
