By Henry Umoru, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Luminous Jannamike, Joseph Erunke and Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA-Despite the pro and counter protests by their supporters in Abuja, yesterday, Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, PDP, Kogi Central and the senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, dug in on their opposing views over the sexual harassment petition presented by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Order 40 states “A Senator present in the Senate during a debate – (a) shall enter or leave the Senate with decorum; (b) shall maintain silence while another Senator is speaking, and shall not interrupt, except in accordance with these Standing Orders; and (c) shall otherwise conduct himself in a fit and proper manner.

Rising under the Order 40, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she had made some comments on Arise TV, a private television station, bordering on alleged sexual harassment by Akpabio and had decided to table same as a petition before the Senate.

However, Akpabio denied the allegation.

This came as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, to halt the disciplinary proceeding initiated against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

However, the Senate dismissed the petition by Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying it was dead on arrival because it went contrary to Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders.

Also, a forum of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the North Central has described Akpoti-Uduaghan petition as a plot to cause a breakdown of law and order in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and destabilise the President Bola Tinubu administration.

On its part, the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has decried the alleged maltreatment of Akpoti-Uduaghan by Akpabio over the recent change of seat in the Senate Chambers.

Meanwhile, protesters in support of Akpoti-Uduaghan on their way to the Mopol gate of the National Assembly were chased away from the Arcade, opposite the Eagle Square.





https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/sexual-harassment-akpabio-akpoti-uduaghan-defend-positions/