- Safiu Kehinde
Former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, has denied being accused of sexual harrasment by lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North) had, according to a media report, alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan previously accused Fayemi of sexual harassment.
Fasuyi reportedly made the allegation during the plenary session on Wednesday where Natasha submitted a petition before the Senate, accusing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harrasment, misuse of power, and obstructing her from performing her legislative function.
Reacting in a statement issued on Wednesday evening by Fayemi’s media aide, Ahmad Sajoh, the ex-Ekiti state governor and former Minister, said the report is inaccurate and a misrepresentation of the actual comments made by Fasuyi.
Sajoh stated that, upon reviewing the plenary, the Ekiti lawmaker never made such an allegation.
He explained that the Ekiti lawmaker had only mentioned Natasha’s allegation that Fayemi sold the Ajaokuta Steel during his tenure as the Minister of Mines and Steel Development.
“Our attention has been drawn to a news report published by The Cable regarding an alleged statement made by Senator Cyril Fasuyi during today’s Senate plenary. According to the report, Senator Fasuyi purportedly claimed that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously accused Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, of sexual harassment.
“We wish to categorically state that this report is inaccurate and a misrepresentation of the actual comments made by the Distinguished Senator from Ekiti. Upon reviewing the proceedings, it is evident that Senator Fasuyi never made such an allegation. Instead, what he actually stated was that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had, in the past, made false and defamatory claims against Dr. Fayemi when he served as Minister of Mines and Steel Development, specifically regarding issues related to the Ajaokuta Steel Company.” the statement read.
Sajoh reiterated that no one has ever accused Fayemi of such misconduct, stressing that the former governor has always upheld the highest standards of integrity in public service.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to reiterate that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan—or anyone else, for that matter—has never accused Dr. Fayemi of any form of sexual misconduct. Dr. Fayemi has always upheld the highest standards of integrity in public service, and we strongly reject any attempt by the media to associate his name with baseless and damaging allegations.
“Furthermore, we wish to make it clear that Dr. Fayemi has no interest in being drawn into the ongoing controversy in the Senate. His past engagements with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan were strictly professional, and any differences that arose were purely based on divergent policy perspectives, not personal grievances.” Sajoh added.
He urged the media to verify facts before publication and desist from disseminating misleading narratives which could damage reputations and undermine public trust.