The Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghen for six months for violation of the Red Chambers rules.
Her suspension followed her dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio who she accused of sexual harassment.
Despite efforts by some senators to reduce the suspension period to three months, the Senate, in a majority vote, sustained the initial decision
However, the lawmakers ruled that the suspension could be lifted or reduced if she tenders a written apology.
Reacting, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan described her suspension from the Red Chambers as “an injustice that will not be sustained”.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker was suspended for six months on Thursday after the Senate disciplinary committee found her guilty of breaching its rules in the wake of her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Also the former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has described the six-month suspension slammed on the Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as a “vicious abuse of power”.
Ezekwesili, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, said instead of probing the sexual harassment allegations levelled by Natasha against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the red chambers “decided to choose the ignoble path of vicious abuse of power and desecration of our public institution”.
In a contrasting view on the Natasha’s case the Nigeria’s First Lady, Senaror Oluremi Tinubu, applauds the senate’s action on handling the matter.
The first lady describes the Nigerian Senate as a matured institution that must be treated with respect.
Senator Oluremi’s remarks came amid allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of power against the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Speaking ahead of International Women’s Day, she dismissed concerns over the Senate’s handling of issues, insisting lawmakers are “doing what is needful.”
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who served in the Senate for 12 years, said the chamber should be a place of honour, not controversy and also urged Nigerian women to assert themselves in leadership.
Senator Natasha’s suspension followed a recommendation by the Senate disciplinary committee which submitted its report to the lawmakers during plenary session on Thursday.
