Barely 24 hours after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan lodged a complaint about gender discrimination and sexual harassment against the Upper Chamber and its head, Godswill Akpabio, at the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Conference in New York (IPU), the Nigerian Senate has sent a response.
Responding via a letter by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Nigerian Legislature said that the complainant bagged her suspension after being found guilty of running afoul of its rules.
The Nigerian Senate letter was read by the Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Honorable Kafilat Ogbara, attending the event in an official capacity representing Nigeria.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi:PDP) had taken her case to the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Conference in New York on Tuesday.
In tears, she alleged gross injustice was meted out to her as her case against Akpabio was swept under the carpet and she herself suspended for six months.
After listening to her complaint, the IPU told Senator Natasha that it would take necessary steps to address the complaints she brought to the union after listening to the other side.
The Senate letter read in part, “Senator Natasha-Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour and not as a result of allegation of sexual harassment or assault. The authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly refutes the deliberate misinformation and false narrative being circulated by certain media organisations regarding the sixth months suspension of Senator Natsaha-Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“Let it be unequivocally stated that Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent act of misconduct and disregard for the Senate Standing Orders.”
Honourable Ogbara, however, called for a thorough investigation into the allegation by Senator Natasha against the Senator President, Godswill Akpabio.
She maintained that procedures and necessary actions under the Senate rules were observed before Senator Natasha’s suspension.
Last week, the Senate suspended the lawmaker in a move that has continued to generate debates across the country.
She had initially submitted a petition to the Senate accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment. But the lawmakers threw it out before suspending her even after submitting another petition.
Senator Natasha vowed to continue the fight against “injustice”. But in the wake of the suspension, Akpabio denied the accusations and maintained he has never assaulted women.
Her altercation with the Senate president started on February 20, 2025, after her seat was changed during plenary.
