…Police Fires Teargas on pro-Natasha Protesters
The Senate has thrown out a sexual harassment petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North west) for lacking in merit.
This is the latest in events arising from a conflict that arose from Akpabio”s directive that Akpoti-Uduaghan should be relocated from her former seat to another one. She would layer describe it as a fallout of her refusal to yield to his sexual advance.
Her petition was presented before the Senate on Wednesday under Order 40, which allows a senator to submit a petition.
The lawmaker, who has been trending since she made the public allegation on live television last week, was accompanied to the National Assembly by her husband as the Senate resumed plenary from its short break. He escorted her to the entrance of the Senate chamber before taking his leave.
Presenting the petition in plenary, she read from Order 40, saying, “I have decided to narrow these statements in a formal petition against the President of this Senate. So if it may please you, I would humbly step forward and lay this petition.”
The allegations against Akpabio have been circulating on social media and television since February. However, the Senate President has denied any wrongdoing, insisting he has never harassed any woman.
“There were some spurious allegations making the rounds in the social media and on television,” Akpabio said in response to the petition. “While I am aware that the matters are in court, I would like to state clearly that at no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment.”
He further emphasised his respect for women, citing his upbringing by a single mother and his role as a father to four daughters.
“I and my siblings, we were raised very well by my late single mother. She died in the year 2000, through very difficult times. I, therefore, have the highest regard for women,” Akpabio stated. “At no time will I ever harass any woman.”
The Senate President also highlighted his past record as a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, during which time he said he received awards for gender inclusivity.
“Even as a state governor, I was awarded various awards, one of them being the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria,” he added. “I served between 2007 and 2015.”
Akpabio urged Nigerians, particularly the media, to refrain from drawing conclusions while the case remains in court.
“In conclusion, I urge all Nigerians, particularly the media and members of the social media, to await the court’s decision,” he said. “Please do not jump to conclusions.”
He thereafter referred the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions for further legislative action.
However, top principal officers of the Senate faulted the action of the Senate President, saying his ruling was made out of emotions. They noted that the petition submitted by Akpoti- Uduaghan ought to have been rejected as it contravenes Rule 40 (4) of the Senate Standing Orders which states that a senator cannot present a petition that is signed by him or her.
The objection was first raised by the Whip of the Senate, Sen. Mohammed Mongunu (Borno North), who noted that the action of Senator Natasha is a violation of the Senate Standing Rule 40(4) and (7) which states that “a senator can not present a petition in which he or she is a signatory,” while Rule 40 (7) states that “Senate should not receive or tolerate any matter to which actions are pending in any court of law.”
His position was supported by the Leader of the Senate, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), who expressed the view that the Senate President took a wrong decision to entertain the motion because he doesn’t want the public, especially visiting United Kingdom parliamentarians who were observing proceedings from the chamber’s gallery, to view him as stopping the allegation against him from being investigated.
He stated, “It is not about the distinguished senator Natasha and the Senate president. It is about the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I urge all our colleagues to note two things. One, Order 40, sub 4 says that no senator bringing a petition shall the author. The essence of this rule is allow us, as elected representatives of the people, Senators, to present and lay petitions on behalf of our constituents. The alternative to that is the matter of privilege, Order 10. That is what we can do, not to bring a petition. Mr President, I sympathise with you as a man being accused of sexual harassment. I’m not going to respond to that because there will be ample opportunity by relevant authorities to deal with that.
“But I know, dear colleagues, that distinguished Sen. Natasha went to court on a matter, then appeared on Arise TV on another matter. Talking about sexual harassment and on the part of the Senate president, Mrs Unoma Akpabio, on behalf of the family, the children, went to court and parties have been served on allegations of sexual harassment. So it is important for the public to know, and also our observers, including our foreign observers who are also parliamentarians from the United Kingdom to know that as political as this matter can be, we cannot be emotional about it.
“We are guided by two things, actually three different things. We are guided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, section 60 of which says we shall regulate our procedure. Secondly, we are guided by the rules of this Senate. Section 40, subsection 4 which also says ‘No senator shall personally sign a petition to be laid before this Senate.’
“It is not about Committee on Ethics, it is not about waiting for the Committee to take a decision. It is about whether this matter is right to be referred to the committee. Mr Senate President, you were being emotional because you didn’t want to be seen as trying to stop this allegation. That is why you even allowed it to be referred. The Senate erred by referring it to the Committee. It is not competent to stand before the Senate. That is the issue. Our rules are very clear.”
Senator Akpabio acknowledged the contributions of both Mongunu and Bamidele, saying they were correct in their observations. He said, “There was a reflection by Senator Mongunu who has served for 16 years as a member of the House of Representatives and was also a chairman of the Committee on judiciary and legal matters. It is very pertinent and relevant. For those of you who may have doubts, after this you can request from the clerk the Standing Orders of the Senate and look at Rule 40, subsection 4 and 7.
“Rule 40 (4) says no senator may present a petition signed by himself. Chapter 40 (7), says the Senate should not receive a petition on any matter to which actions are pending in any court of the law.”
But Senator Natasha interjected, asking to be recognised on Order 10 which is on matter of privilege. When she was told she couldn’t speak at that point, she insisted to be recognised.
“I believe here, sir, that your denial, your refusal to accept and treat my petition before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges is an abuse of my privileges, and I say that this matter is not yet before any court of law.
“The matter before the court is on the defamation and cyberbullying statements made by your special assistant on new media, Mr. Patrick Udom, who addressed my decent outfits as transparent, thereby depicting that I walked seducely and naked to the chambers. That is the nature of the petition, of the case in court. This petition, sir, has never been filed. The petition that alleges, or should I say, accuses you of making sexual harassment moves, abusing your office, and making malicious obstructions to my legislative functions has not been tendered anywhere or before any courts in Nigeria. So, sir, I would appreciate it if you kindly accept my petition and forward it to the Ethics and Privileges Committee so it could be treated,” she stated.
Akpabio then permitted her to lay her petition and referred it to the Ethics and Privileges, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions Committee.
After close of plenary, the Senate Ethics and Privileges, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions Committee sat in defiance of a court order stopping it from taking any against the Kogi lawmaker.
Presiding over the committee chairman, Sen. Neda Imasuen, ruled that the petition was “dead on arrival” due to violations of Senate Order 40 (4) which prohibits a senator from presenting a petition signed by them. Secondly, the committee noted that the matter was already before a court and, therefore, not actionable.
Commenting on the issue, Imasuen stated, “We cannot interfere in matters that are already under judicial consideration.”
Speaking on the issue, spokesman of the Senate, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, supported the committee’s decision, emphasising that Senate procedures muat be adhered to. “This is not about witch-hunting. The Senate is an institution governed by rules. If a senator has a complaint, they must follow due process,” he stated.
He further pointed out that Akpoti-Uduaghan herself had followed seating rules during a later session, which he saw as an admission of wrongdoing. “If she truly believed she had the right to sit wherever she wanted, why did she sit in her allocated seat today before raising a point of order? Her actions show that she knew she was wrong.”
On the court order to stop the committee from sitting on the matter, Imasuen stressed, “There is a clear separation of powers in our Constitution. The judiciary does not dictate what happens in the Senate. Just as we do not interfere in court cases, the courts cannot interfere in how we conduct our business.”
The report is expected to be laid in plenary anytime from tomorrow (Thursday) though the petitioner was absent and didn’t send any defence.
In a related development, two groups of protesters who converged at the entrance of the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday morning in support of Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senator Godswill Akpabio were dispersed with teargas fired by police officers.
The protesters in support of senator Akpoti -Uduaghan carried banners asking for the resignation of Akpabio while the pro-Akpabio group declared that he will not resign over unproven allegations.
Daily Sun
