The Nigerian Senate was thrown into disarray on Wednesday as confusion arose over the handling of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan invoked Order 10 of the Senate Rules, seeking to have her petition admitted and referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. Her submission followed Akpabio’s earlier remarks in which he denied ever harassing any woman.
However, Senator Mohammed Monguno, citing Order 40, argued that the Senate lacked jurisdiction over the matter, as it was already before a court. He insisted that debating the issue in the chamber would be subjudice and an overreach of judicial authority.
“Mr. Senate President, distinguished colleagues, you are aware that the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Unoma Ekaete Akpabio, and her family have taken Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to court following her allegations on Arise Television last week.
“This means this chamber is legally barred from deliberating on the same issue,” Monguno asserted.
Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele also weighed in, stating that the Senate had erred in admitting the petition, as its rules prohibit a senator from personally signing a petition against the Senate leadership.
“It is the responsibility of constituents to sign and submit such petitions. However, Akpabio may have allowed it to proceed to avoid appearing as though he was suppressing a fellow senator’s right to speak,” Bamidele noted.
In light of the escalating tensions, he proposed that the Senate move into a closed-door session to resolve the matter privately.
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