The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has broken his silence on the sexual harassment allegation leveled against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Akpabio made the rebuttal at the resumption of plenary on Wednesday after a week recess.
The trouble between the lawmakers became public on February 20, when Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged Akpabio in a heated argument after her seat was re-allocated in the upper chamber without her knowledge.
Akpoti-Uduaghan subsequently appeared on a television programme where she accused Akpabio of intimidating and frustrating her motions because she rejected his sexual advances.
But speaking for the first time at Wednesday’s plenary of the Senate, Akpabio said: “I would like to state clearly that at no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment on the said Distinguished Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan or any other woman for that matter.
“I and my siblings were raised very well by my late single mother, she died in the year 2000, through very difficult times, and I therefore have the highest regards for women. Even in her demise, I still cry till today.
“I also wish to state that I also have four beautiful daughters, so at no time will I ever harass any woman and I have never done so.
“In addition, even as a state governor, I was awarded various awards. One of them is one you may wish to know, “the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria”.
“In conclusion, I urge all Nigerians, in particular the media and members of the social media to await the court’s decision and please do not jump to conclusions on matters of mere allegations,” the senate president said at plenary on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan has tendered a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio on the floor of the upper legislative chamber under order 40 of the senate rules.
This came shortly after Akpabio delivered his speech on her allegations against him.
Akpabio referred the petition to the Senate Committee on Code of Conduct, Ethics and Public Petitions, and to revert to the Senate “as soon as practicable”.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, during Wednesday’s plenary, stood up and stated that she had a petition, read it out aloud, and submitted it.
The petition read: “I have a petition against the President of the Nigerian Senate. His Excellency Sen. Godswill Akpabio for sexual harassment, abuse of office and malicious obstruction of my legislative functions.
“You may recall, sir, that on Friday, on Arise TV, I did make some statements. And I have decided to narrow the statements in a formal petition against the President of this Senate.
“So if it may please you, so if it pleases you, I will humbly step forward and lay this petition”.
However, a heated session ensued when Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno, citing Order 40(4), argued that Senate rules must be strictly adhered to.
Order 40 (4) reads: “No senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by himself”.
He warned that any deviation to these rules could lead to “chaos and anarchy” as such the Senate would protect the sacred provisions of the rules.
Monguno further noted that the matter was sub judiced. “The petitioner, Sen. Natasha, has gone to court in respect of this matter.
“The wife of the Senate President has equally gone to court in respect of this matter. So, this matter is subjudiced. And therefore, the Senate does not have to do anything to entertain this matter,” he said.
He advised that the matter should be referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, rejected Monguno’s argument.
She said that the ongoing court case was a N100 billion defamation lawsuit she filed against Patrick Mfon, a special assistant to the Senate President on social media and not against Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that her sexual harassment claims were not the subject of any legal action, contradicting the basis for rejecting her petition.
“This matter is not in court. The matter before the court is on defamation and cyber bullying statements by the senate president’s special assistant on social media, Patrick Mfon, who accused me of dressing indecently to the senate.
“Mr President, your denial and refusal to accept and treat my petition before the committee on Ethics, this matter is not sub judiced; it’s not before the court,” she said.
On his part, the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele also corroborated Sen. Monguno’s position.
He said: “Order 40(4) says no senator bringing a petition shall be the author.
“Mr president, I sympathise with you as a man being accused of sexual harassment.
“I won’t comment on that because there will be an ample opportunity for the relevant committee to deal with that.
“It is important that the public should know and our observers should note that as political as this can be, we cannot be emotional about it.
“We are guided by rules and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended,” Bamidele said.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio said “the Senate actually referred her matter not because I’m not aware of the provisions of the rules.
“It is because when people are watching from outside, they may not know we are guided by rules”.
