The senator representing Kogi Central Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made the allegation during a televised interview on Friday, claiming that Akpabio blocked her motions from being heard in the Senate after she rejected his advances.
The Kogi lawmaker detailed the incident, which she claimed began on December 8, 2023, when she and her husband attended a pre-birthday invitation at Akpabio’s residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. She described an uncomfortable moment where Akpabio allegedly held her hand, hastened his pace, and later made suggestive comments about spending time together. Akpoti-Uduaghan said she felt uneasy but did not initially respond to the situation.
She then shared her experience of struggling to get a motion regarding corrupt practices at Ajaokuta Steel Company heard in the Senate. Despite listing the motion five times, it was only on the sixth attempt that it appeared on the order paper. When she questioned Akpabio about the delay, she alleged that he responded by saying, “Natasha, I am the Chief Presiding officer of the Senate. You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.” Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that she tried to ignore the comment, stating that her case was akin to “a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”
Further, she recounted an incident where Akpabio allegedly ordered a seat change for her without prior notice, and she was warned by some senators to adhere to it as it was part of a trap. Akpoti-Uduaghan also claimed that Akpabio did not allow her to invoke Order 10, which allows Senators to raise concerns about their rights being violated.
In response, Kenny Okulogbo, media consultant to Senate President Akpabio, dismissed the allegations as “tissues of lies.” He attributed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s anger to her removal from the position of Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content. Okulogbo said an official statement would be released soon, denying the claims of harassment.
The accusations have sparked a significant political and social conversation, with the Senate President’s camp preparing a formal response.
