The Senate is deliberating on a proposal to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for a period of six months.
This action is based on findings from an inquiry conducted by the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, which found her in total violation of Senate rules. As per the recommendations put forth by the committee and articulated by its Chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen, Senator Natasha’s suspension is slated to begin on March 6, 2025.
As part of the suspension, it is recommended that Senator Natasha’s office be locked, and she be denied access to the National Assembly premises throughout the suspension duration. Additionally, it has been suggested that both her salary and those of her legislative aides be withheld. Furthermore, the committee has advocated for her disqualification from representing Nigeria in any official senatorial capacity during the suspension period. They also mentioned that the lawmaker from Kogi Central may submit a written apology, which may be considered by the Senate in reviewing her suspension.
The Senate is expected to cast votes on this recommendation, and if it passes, it would effectively strip Senator Natasha of all legislative rights and privileges for the span of her suspension. This recent development marks another chapter in the ongoing conflict between Senator Natasha and Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The conflict initially arose due to a disagreement over seating arrangements but escalated into accusations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha, a former governorship candidate for Kogi, against Akpabio.
Despite the gravity of these allegations, the Senate Committee had previously dismissed the petition submitted by the Kogi Central lawmaker on Wednesday, categorizing the claims of alleged abuse of office, sexual harassment, and obstruction of legislative duties as unsubstantiated and unworthy of review by the Senate. Senator Imasuen, representing Edo South, referred to the petition as “dead on arrival.” The petition, which had some support from her constituents, was thereby dismissed.
However, Senator Natasha persisted by resubmitting the petition during the Thursday plenary session. When asked if the matter was under judicial consideration, she clarified that it was not. Consequently, she was guided to forward the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for further investigation. The committee is expected to thoroughly examine the matter over the course of four weeks and subsequently report their findings to the Senate.
