Senate President Godswill Akpabio has refuted Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims of sexual harassment against him.
Following a one-week hiatus, Akpabio refuted the accusation on Wednesday during the Senate’s plenary session.
“I never once harassed any woman,” he stated. My late single mother reared me quite nicely, and I have always respected women. I even received an award for being Nigeria’s most gender-friendly governor.
Akpabio claimed to be aware of the conversations on social media and to have been contacted over the issue since February 25.
He asked Nigerians and the media to wait for the court’s ruling before drawing any conclusions.
Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a petition under Order 40 shortly after he made his remarks, alleging that he had engaged in sexual harassment and abused his position.
She requested that the petition be formally sent to the Senate.
For additional research, the Senate forwarded the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.
When Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio clashed over a seat reconfiguration in February, the controversy began.
Tension in the Senate has resulted from the dispute, prompting questions about appropriate behavior among senators.
In contrast to the custom of displaying respect for the presiding officer, Akpoti-Uduaghan sat in her new seat on Wednesday but declined to stand when Akpabio entered the chamber.
ALSO READ:
Assembly Resolutions Regarding Supreme Court Judgment Still Awaiting Us—Rivers Government
