Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has strongly criticized Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), for raising alleged sexual harassment against him at an international parliamentary conference.
Speaking during plenary on Thursday, Akpabio accused Natasha of attempting to tarnish Nigeria’s image by taking the matter to the global stage.
Akpabio said, “She has externalized the issue in an attempt to embarrass the Federal Republic of Nigeria by presenting a completely different narrative at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference in New York.”
Natasha had alleged at the conference on Tuesday that she was “illegally suspended” from the Senate after submitting a petition accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment.
But Akpabio dismissed her claims, insisting that she bypassed internal parliamentary procedures and the judiciary by taking her grievances to an international platform.
He said, “We have internal mechanisms for resolving issues in Nigeria. Beyond the parliament, we also have the judiciary, where she already has a case. Yet, instead of following due process, she has taken the matter abroad.”
He further stated that despite filing a petition in the Senate, Natasha had not allowed it to be reviewed, just as she had not allowed the judiciary to adjudicate the matter.
“Now, she has taken the issue to the international community, and she may not even allow them to look into it either. Who knows where she will go next? But we remain committed to upholding the rule of law. The Senate operates within the framework of the Nigerian Constitution,” Akpabio added.
The Senate President also commended a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Kafilat Ogbara, for addressing the press to counter Natasha’s claims.
He urged the international media to be cautious about misrepresenting Nigeria.
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