By Francesca Hangeior

The sexual harassment petition submitted by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio has taken a new plot twist after senators disagreed on the grounds through which it was submitted.

Akpoti-Uduaghan formally submitted the petition on Wednesday following the claim of the senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, that the only petition before the senate is the senator’s disobedience to orders of the red chamber.

This action led to wide public debate in the country, with many of the supporters of the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District trooping out en masse to seek justice for the senator and the resignation of Akpabio in the matter.

However, some senators have supported Akpabio while dismissing the petition because it doesn’t follow the order of the Senate, despite the Senate President’s ruling on the hearing of the petition.

Speaking, the senate chief whip, Mohammed Monguno (Borno, APC), while quoting Order 40, rule 7 of the Senate Standing Order, said the issue contained in Senator Natasha’s petition is already in the court of law, and the rules of the senate do not permit deliberation on such matters.

“The matter is in the court of law. Senator Natasha herself has gone to court in respect of this matter, and also the wife of the Senate President has equally gone to court for this matter.

“The Senate, therefore, does not have the jurisdiction to entertain this matter. That the matter should be referred to the ethics and petition committee is not necessary,” he said.

Another senator, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North Senatorial District, APC) subjected the matter to the Ethics committee to decide the appropriate order and the interpretation of the rules raised by Senator Mungono for clarification.

In his remarks, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central District, APC) stressed the senate standing rule’s order 40, sub 4 which notes that no senator bringing in a petition shall be the author of same, adding, “The essence of the rule is to lay petition of behalf of constituents not to be the author.

“Mr President, I sympathise with you, as a man being accused of sexual harassment, but I am not going to comment on that because there will be ample opportunities for the relevant authorities to deal with that but I know that Senator Natasha went to court on the matter then appeared on national TV on the sexual harassment matter and the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Uloma Akpabio went to court and parties have been served.”

Countering her colleagues’ claims, Akpoti-Uduaghan said her harassment petition was not before the court, and that the only matter in the court is that of cyberbullying made by Akpabio’s special assistant on New media, Patrick Udom, who described her “decent outfit” as transparent by depicting that she dresses naked to the chambers.

She further appealed to Akpabio to accept and forward her petition to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for deliberation.

Akpabio had earlier denied allegations of sexual harassment made against him. (https://punchng.com/natasha-akpabio-denies-sexual-harassment-allegations/)

He said, “At no time did I ever harass any woman. I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women. I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria.”

Akpabio said he had been receiving calls about the matter since February 25 and was aware of the discussions on social media.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians and the media to avoid making conclusions, asking them to wait for the court’s decision.