The Nigerian Senate has reacted to the allegations against it by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the United Nations Inter- parliamentary Union, IPU.
The Senate’s response was read to the IPU on Wednesday by the Chairperson, House committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Honorable Kafilat Ogbara, barely 24 hours after Akpoti-Uduaghan lodged her case with the union in New York, the United States, US.
Recall that the senator was suspended last week for six months for allegedly being unruly at the Senate Plenary on February 24, after an argument ensued between her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio over sitting arrangement in the chamber.
The Embattled Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the Nigerian Senate however on Tuesday, took her case to the IPU in her quest for justice.
Speaking before the IPU, the suspended lawmaker said she decided to come to the Union because the Senate has failed to give her justice on the allegation of Sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
She alleged that her case is one of the sexual abuse and harassment being faced by Nigerian women, saying those who have been abused are afraid to speak out because they fear that they will not get justice.
But speaking yesterday, Ogbara, who read the official reaction from the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele said Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for flouting Senate rules and for gross misconduct.
The Senate letter read in part, “Senator Natasha-Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour and not as a result of allegation of sexual harassment or assault. The authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly refutes the deliberate misinformation and false narrative being circulated by certain media organisations regarding the sixth months suspension of Senator Natsaha-Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“Let it be unequivocally stated that Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent act of misconduct and disregard for the Senate Standing Orders.”
The suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has generated mixed reactions in the country, with some siding her and others blaming her for her suspension.
Her suspension also followed the Senate’s rejection of her petition against Akpabio, the upper chamber said the petition was ‘dead on arrival’ because it was signed by the embattled senator.
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