In a dramatic turn of events, the Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. The decision, which has sparked heated debates, was based on the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, which accused Natasha of violating the Senate Standing Rules and bringing the upper legislative chamber into disrepute.
The suspension comes with severe penalties, including the withdrawal of her salary, allowances, legislative aides’ salaries, and security escorts. The committee also ruled that her office be locked for the duration of her suspension, barring her from setting foot anywhere near the National Assembly premises.
Presenting the committee’s findings on Thursday, Chairman Senator Neda Imasuen argued that Natasha’s actions were not only a violation of Senate protocols but also an embarrassment to the legislative body.
> “That the Senate should suspend Senator Natasha for six months for her violation of the Senate Standing Rules 2023 as amended, for bringing the Senate President and the Senate in general to public disgrace,” Imasuen declared.
The committee added that Natasha must issue a formal written apology before any reconsideration of her suspension.
> “For the Senate to consider lifting the suspension or to reduce the tenure, Senator Natasha shall submit a written apology before reconsideration by the Senate,” the report stated.
The suspension, effective from March 6, 2025, effectively silences one of the most vocal female lawmakers in the Senate.
The Fallout: Natasha Stripped of Rights and Privileges
The committee’s recommendation outlined harsh consequences for Natasha’s suspension:
Immediate eviction from her office, which will be sealed for the duration of the suspension.
Prohibition from entering or being seen within the National Assembly premises.
Suspension of her salary, allowances, and those of her legislative aides.
Immediate withdrawal of all security details assigned to her.
These punitive measures suggest an attempt not just to discipline Natasha but to isolate her entirely from Senate affairs.
Senate Dismisses Natasha’s Sexual Harassment Petition Against Akpabio
Adding to the controversy, the Ethics Committee had earlier dismissed Natasha’s sexual harassment petition against Senate President Akpabio, ruling that it was “dead on arrival.”
The committee cited procedural infractions, particularly the fact that Natasha personally signed the petition, which, according to Senate rules, rendered it inadmissible.
> “The petition presented today is actually dead on arrival. I am saying that because it runs contrary to Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator should present a petition signed by him or herself. That person, having signed it personally, makes it inadmissible before this committee,” the Ethics Committee ruled.
Supporting this position, the Senate Chief Whip stated that the petition lacked any legal standing.
> “Mr. Senate President, you are being emotional because you don’t want to be seen as trying to stop this allegation. You even allowed it to be referred. The Senate holds that the petition is not competent to stand before the Senate. That is the issue,” he said.
Senator Natasha’s suspension has fueled accusations that the Senate is using its rules to shield its leadership from scrutiny while silencing dissenting voices. Critics argue that the speed with which the Senate moved to dismiss her petition and impose a severe suspension suggests a coordinated effort to punish her for speaking out.
With the Senate’s decision now final, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan joins a growing list of lawmakers who have faced suspensions under controversial circumstances. However, the larger question remains: Is this about upholding Senate discipline, or is it a calculated move to suppress allegations against one of the country’s most powerful politicians?
As the political drama unfolds, Natasha’s fate now rests on whether she chooses to apologize or challenge the Senate’s decision through legal means.
PIONEER NEWS 