Senate Leadership Denies Suspension of Senator Natasha Over Sexual Harassment Allegations
The leadership of the Senate has refuted claims that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was due to her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a statement released on Saturday, March 8, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele explained that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was based solely on her repeated violations of the Senate’s rules and procedures, specifically Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended), and her disruptive behavior during Senate sessions.
It was previously reported that the Senate had suspended Senator Natasha for six months on March 6, 2025. Bamidele clarified that contrary to what Akpoti-Uduaghan has suggested, her suspension was not connected to her accusations of sexual harassment but to her failure to adhere to the Senate’s established conduct.
Bamidele noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan had misled the public by claiming that her suspension was retaliation for accusing the Senate President of sexual harassment. He emphasized that the action taken against her was strictly a result of her repeated misconduct and failure to follow the procedures of the Senate.
Further, he pointed out that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment petition did not meet the required procedural standards for submission to the Senate, making it invalid for consideration.
The statement reads in part:
“It has come to the Senate’s attention that certain media outlets are falsely suggesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was due to sexual harassment allegations. This is completely untrue, misleading, and an intentional distortion of the facts. If Akpoti-Uduaghan had followed the appropriate procedures, the Senate would have considered her petition on its merits. However, she did not adhere to the institution’s rules.”
Bamidele also explained that the suspension was decided by the Committee of the Whole Senate, following a report from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions. The report concluded that Akpoti-Uduaghan was responsible for multiple breaches of Senate decorum, including:
- Refusing to sit in her assigned seat during plenary on February 25, 2025, despite multiple requests from the Minority Leader and other senior Senators.
- Speaking without being recognized by the presiding officer on February 25, 2025.
- Engaging in disruptive behavior that hindered the orderly conduct of Senate proceedings.
- Making disrespectful and abusive comments toward Senate leadership.
- Failing to comply with summons from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions.
Bamidele stressed that these actions were a direct challenge to the authority of the Senate and a clear violation of the Senate Standing Orders. He argued that the suspension was necessary to maintain order and preserve the integrity of the Senate.
“The suspension was not related to her sexual harassment petition. The petition was not considered because it did not meet the Senate’s procedural requirements. To suggest otherwise is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” Bamidele stated.
The statement concluded by urging the media to refrain from distorting the facts and to avoid spreading misinformation that could damage the credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process. Bamidele also thanked certain media outlets for their responsible reporting and expressed his dismay over attempts to politicize a purely procedural matter.
“This coordinated misinformation campaign is an attempt to politicize a decision based on clear violations of Senate rules. It is misleading and undermines the integrity of the Nigerian Senate. We urge media organizations to correct these misrepresentations and uphold the truth in their reporting,” Bamidele said.
