The Nigerian Senate has dismissed a sexual harassment petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, with Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele citing constitutional breaches and procedural defects as grounds for rejection.
Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, declared the petition inadmissible during Wednesday’s plenary session, emphasizing that it violated both the Nigerian Constitution and Senate rules. He insisted that the matter should not have been referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, arguing that such an action risked setting a dangerous precedent.
Referencing specific legislative provisions, Bamidele stated:
1. Violation of Senate Rules: “Section 40, Subsection 4 of our rules clearly states that no senator shall personally sign a petition to be laid before this Senate,” he argued, pointing out that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed the document.
2. Ongoing Court Case: The allegations against Akpabio are already in court, making Senate intervention inappropriate.
“It is not about waiting for the committee’s decision; the issue is whether the matter should have been referred at all,” Bamidele asserted.
In a striking remark, Bamidele suggested that Senate President Akpabio had acted emotionally in allowing the petition to be considered in the first place.
“Mr. Senate President, you were being emotional because you didn’t want to be seen as blocking the allegations. That’s why you even allowed it to be referred to a committee that lacks the competence to handle it,” he stated.
While acknowledging his respect for Akpoti-Uduaghan, Bamidele insisted that Senate rules must be upheld, warning against altering procedures to accommodate personal grievances.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had submitted the petition under Senate Rule 40, accusing Akpabio of blocking her motions as retaliation for rejecting his alleged sexual advances. However, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu dismissed the claims, maintaining that no formal petition had been received and that all matters must follow due parliamentary process.
In his final remarks, Bamidele urged the Senate to drop the matter and proceed with other legislative issues.
“Mr. President, there is no way we can accept this petition. I respectfully suggest that we move to the next item on the agenda,” he concluded.
With the rejection of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition, the controversy surrounding her allegations against Akpabio remains unresolved, leaving the courts as the final battleground for justice.
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