- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Senate has rejected petition filed by Kogi state lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Natasha had earlier today petitioned the Senate over alleged sexual harassment, misuse of office, and obstruction of her legislative functions by the Senate President.
The Red Chamber would, however, rejected the petition as the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Munguno, challenged the validity of the petition based on procedural grounds.
Citing Order 40(4) of the Senate rules, Munguno warned that any deviation from established procedures could lead to “chaos and anarchy.”
He argued that the petition was personally signed by Natasha, thereby rendering it flawed as the Senate rules prohibit a senator from personally signing and submitting their own petition.
“Senator Natasha had signed her own petition, rendering it invalid,” Munguno asserted.
Reacting, Natasha insisted that her legal case was unrelated to sexual harassment as earlier mentioned by the Senate President.
She held that the suit focused on defamatory remarks made about her dressing.
Meanwhile, the Kogi lawmaker invoked Order 10, which allows any senator to rise and speak at any time, and maintained that her petition should be considered.
According to report, former Senate Leader, Abdullahi Adamu, attempted to de-escalate tensions, suggesting that since Akpabio had already accepted the petition, it should be referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for review.
This, however, fuelled further divided opinions, leading to a flurry of points of order and a brief commotion in the chamber.
On his part, Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, reinforced the argument that no senator can author and sign their own petition.
He also highlighted that the matter was already before the courts, as Akpabio’s wife had initiated legal proceedings, making it sub judice and beyond the Senate’s jurisdiction.
“Section 40 (4) says no Senator shall personally sign a petition for this Senate. It is not about Committe on Ethics; it’s not about waiting for the Senate to make decision; It is about whether this matter is right to be referred to the Committee. Mr. Senate President, you are being emotional not wanting to be seen as trying to stop this allegation.
“It is not competent to stand before the Senate. That is the issue. It was signed by only distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for whom I have a lot of respect. We cannot re-write our rules because of anyone.
“And we will be setting a dangerous precedence. The Senate is guided by parliamentary customs and conventions. In all of this Mr. Presidnet, this petition cannot stand for two reasons.
“One, the issues and allegations of sexual harassment are already issues before the court. And two, because it is defective, and it is a violation of Order 40 (4) of our rules.
“Mr. President, I sympathize with you as a man being accused of sexual harassment,
“However, we must be guided by the Constitution and our Rule Book, not emotions. You accepted the petition based on emotion, but we must uphold due process.” Bamidele said
In his defense, Akpabio clarified that his decision to accept the petition was not out of disregard for Senate rules but rather to avoid any public perception that he was deliberately silencing Akpoti-Uduaghan because he was implicated in the matter.
“I took that petition because I didn’t want people who don’t understand our rules to think I was deliberately silencing her,” Akpabio explained.
Despite attempts to call for a closed-door session, Akpabio ruled that plenary should continue. In the end, the Senate upheld the argument of the Senate Leader and rejected the petition, bringing the contentious matter to a close—at least within the legislative chamber.