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Harassment: Akpabio, Natasha, others to give testimonies before Senate Cttee
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the lawmaker representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan would appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions (SCEPPP).
This is according to the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.
He stated that other lawmakers too would narrate to the committee what they know regarding the alleged case of sexual harassment levelled against Akpabio by Natasha.
“All the parties involved would appear before the Committee, including the Senate President. He would come and testify and his testimony would be recorded, likewise other senators,” he stated.
Natasha, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on February 28 alleged that the incident occurred in December 2023 when she and her husband visited Akpabio’s residence in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.
She alleged that during the visit, the Senate President held her hand, led her around his house, and then made inappropriate advances towards her, even in her husband’s presence.
But Nwebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North, accused his colleague of diverting attention, adding that the upper chamber is not perturbed by the allegation.
“In criminal prosecution, there is what we call prima facie evidence, that is evidence on the surface. If there is no prima facie evidence, then there is no case.
“She knows quite alright that what she is saying is to divert attention but we are not disturbed because we know the truth.
“On the alleged date of the incident, so many senators were there. I am one of the star witnesses, I will come and tell the world what I saw,” he added.
Natasha Reports Akpabio
The Senate suspended the lawmaker for violation of the Senate’s rules days after she submitted a petition against Akpabio for sexual assault and other accusations, claims the Senate President has strongly refuted.
But on Tuesday, the suspended Kogi Senator took her case to a global stage.
At the Women in Parliament session held at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Meeting (IPU) at the United Nations in New York, Senator Natasha sought justice and the intervention of global democratic institutions.
The lawmaker demanded justice over what she described as injustice meted out to her. Senator Natasha described her suspension from the Senate as illegal.
“I was suspended illegally because I submitted a petition for sexual harassment against the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. I thought that by submitting the petition, he would recuse himself and both of us would submit ourselves to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition for a fair, transparent investigation. But unfortunately, I was silenced and I was suspended,” she told the gathering.
“That means I’m here illegally, but I have no other place to go but to come here and speak to you because this is a bigger picture. This is a bigger picture. It depicts the crisis of women’s political representation. My suspension is not just about me. It’s about the systemic exclusion of women from political leadership in Nigeria,” the Kogi lawmaker added.
Akpabio Denies Allegations
But Akpabio has denied the allegations.
“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,” he said.
The Senate President, who said he had been inundated with calls on the matter since February 25, and that he was aware of the growing social media discourse, urged Nigerians, the media, and social media users to refrain from concluding.
The Kwara State Government has announced the immediate revocation of all signage and billboard licences issued in 2024 with enforcement actions set to begin next week.
The government also warned that identification and removal of unauthorised billboards would commence shortly.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Sunday by the Chairman of the Kwara State Task Force Committee on Illegal Billboards and Signages, Bolanle Olukoju.
Olukoju, who is also Commissioner for Communications, explained that the revocation was in line with a previous notification suspending all billboard licences in the state.
He said the move aimed to facilitate the removal of unauthorised and improperly erected billboards, posters, and light pole banners throughout Ilorin and other urban centers.
“This initiative aligns with the Urban Renewal Programme of the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration, which seeks to transform Kwara into a modern and visually appealing state,” he said.
The government also confirmed that no new registrations or renewals of signage and billboard licences would be processed until further notice.
The temporary measure, the statement added, will allow the state to finalise a new regulatory framework for outdoor advertising.
The statement further emphasised that identification of non-compliant billboards is already underway, and owners of unregistered billboards are urged to remove them immediately.
The Federal Government has unveiled requirements for civil servants seeking to migrate their salaries, change their names and their next-of-kin among others.
This was revealed in a memo by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation dated March 12,2025 and addressed to all Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The memo said the government had observed that civil servants effecting the changes on their names and next-of-kins do not submit the necessary documents needed to effect such changes, hence the need for the memo.
“Further to the Circular Ref. HCSF/PS/CMO/IPPIS/I/VOL.I/508 dated 1st November, 2022 on the above subject, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has observed that some Ministries, Departments and Agencies do not attach the required documents which would facilitate granting approvals for migration of saiary, change/correction of names, gender and next-of-kin within the shortest possible time.
“MDAs should therefore, note and be guided by the following Standard Operating Procedures for requests on changes/corrections on HR records of employees on the IPPIS Platform:
With the implementation of the Human Resource component of the IPPIS in the Federal Public Service, it has become necessary to take note and be guided by the above requirements.
“Kindly note that requests that are forwarded to the Office of the Head of the Civil service of the Federation without specific documents will not be processed for approval. Please bring the content of this Circular to all concerned for strict compliance,” the memo read.
Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed support for a Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps member, Ushie Uguamaye, also known as Raye, who claimed to have received threats after her viral video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement shared on X on Sunday, Atiku praised Raye’s courage, describing her as a symbol of a new generation of politically engaged women committed to advocacy and democratic participation.
“Raye embodies the spirit of a new generation of women who champion the ideals of popular participation and unwavering advocacy in the political sphere.
“I deeply admire her boldness and wisdom—her fearless resolve to speak truth to power, undeterred by the weight of opposition,” Atiku wrote.
The former presidential candidate likened Raye to historic female activists such as Gambo Sawaba, Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti, and Margaret Ekpo, who played pivotal roles in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Atiku called for support rather than hostility towards Raye.
“Rather than being met with hostility, Raye deserves encouragement and support. She is a shining emblem of the Nigerian youth—a testament to the long-held promise that the leaders of tomorrow are already among us, ready to shape a better future,” Atiku said.
Raye, a corps member serving in Lagos, recently made headlines after a video she posted criticising government policies went viral.
She later claimed to have faced threats, reportedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to take down the video.
In the video posted on her TikTok account #talktoraye on Saturday, Raye voiced frustration over Nigeria’s deteriorating economic situation, lamenting that hard work no longer guarantees financial stability.
She criticised Tinubu’s leadership, calling him a “terrible leader,” and questioned the government’s commitment to easing citizens’ hardships.
Authorities have yet to comment on her allegations.
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