By Adesina Soyooye
An embarrassed and angry immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has denied that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused him of se3ually harassing her.
Fayemi who reacted to a statement at Senate Plenary Wednesday, March 5, 2025, made by Senator Cyril Fasuyi that Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Fayemi of such misconduct and that Fayemi would forward a petition to the Senate emphasized that at no time did Akpoti-Uduaghan make such an allegation against Fayemi nor has any other person connected Fayemi’s name to such demeaning conduct.
Fasuyi had at plenary Wednesday, while trying to rubbish the allegations of se3ual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, stated that Fayemi had, also, suffered same fate in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s hands, and that the former Governor would forward a petition to the Senate.
But in a strongly worded reaction signed by Mallam Ahmad Sajor, Head Fayemi Media Office said that Senator Fasuyi was, obviously, misrepresenting facts, and advised the Ekiti Senator “exercise greater diligence in verifying facts before making public statements, especially, on sensitive matters that could damage reputations.”
Following the full text of the Fayemi statements entitled: Clarification Regarding Allegations Made By Senator Cyril Fasuyi Against Dr Kayode Fayemi
“We have become aware of a statement made by Senator Cyril Fasuyi during today’s plenary session in which he alleged that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously accused Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State of sexual harassment.
“We categorically state that this claim is entirely false. At no time has Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan or anyone else, for that matter, ever accused Dr Fayemi of such misconduct. It appears that the distinguished Senator from Ekiti inadvertently misrepresented the facts as no such allegation has ever been made against Dr Fayemi.
“Consequently, there is no basis for Senator Fasuyi’s further assertion that Dr. Fayemi would be submitting a petition to the Senate in this regard. We would like to believe that in his enthusiasm to defend the Senate President, Senator Fasuyi inadvertently conflated events, leading to a misrepresentation of facts.
“For the records, the only professional engagement Dr Fayemi ever had with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was during his tenure as the Honourable Minister for Mines and Steel Development when he oversaw matters related to the Ajaokuta Steel Company. While they may have held differing views of the future of the Company at the time, their interactions remained strictly within the realm of policy discussions. At no point did Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan make any allegations of misconduct against Dr Fayemi.
“We urge Senator Fasuyi to exercise greater diligence in verifying facts before making public statements especially on sensitive matters that could damage reputations.
“Dr Fayemi remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity in public office, and we reject any attempt to tarnish his name with baseless allegations.”
Sources say that in Akpabio’s defence, a couple of people earlier, allegedly, accused by Akpoti-Uduaghan of harassing her se3ually, are preparing to petition the Senate so as to make nonsense of her current allegation against Akpabio.
On Wednesday, Akpabio, for the first time, denied the allegation on the floor of the Senate, and stated that: “My mother, a single mom, brought me up properly.”
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