A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has described the six-month suspension slammed on the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, by the Senate as a “vicious abuse of power”.
Ezekwesili, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, said instead of probing the sexual harassment allegations levelled by Natasha against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the red chambers “decided to choose the ignoble path of vicious abuse of power and desecration of our public institution”.
“When men because of little power fleetingly acquired start speaking like they are God, we all must remember what history reveals of their kind.
“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. You have inspired a Generation. You have inspired all credible citizens. You will never walk alone,” she stated.
Investigate the accusation of sexual harassment is all that sensible Nigerians have collectively asked the @NGRSenate to do, but no, they have decided to choose the ignoble path of vicious abuse of power and desecration of our Public Institution @nassnigeria .
The…
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) March 6, 2022
Natasha’s suspension took place ahead of the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025.
On February 20, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, rejected her assigned seat in the red chamber and challenged the Senate President’s order.
The female senator accused the senate president of harassment and slammed a N100bn alleged defamation suit against him while the Akpabio-led upper legislative chamber has referred her to the senate disciplinary committee.
On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment and abuse of office petition against the Senate President, declaring it “dead on arrival” based on procedural violations and legal constraints.
The committee explained that Akpoti-Uduaghan signed the petition herself rather than having it endorsed by another individual, thereby rendering it procedurally invalid.
Additionally, the committee noted that the matters raised in the petition were already before the court, making them sub judice and beyond the Senate’s jurisdiction. But the female senator re-submitted the petition on Thursday.
Earlier, Akpabio denied the sexual harassment allegations against him by the Kogi lawmaker.
In July 2024, Akpabio apologised to Akpoti-Uduaghan over his nightclub comment against the female lawmaker.
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