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The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has resubmitted a sexual harassment petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
PUNCH Online reports that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs resubmitted the petition during Thursday plenary, after her earlier petition was rejected by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions.
Speaking during the presentation, the Kogi lawmaker said the newly submitted petition was filed by her constituents, led by one Zubairu Yakubu.
Following the presentation, Senate President Akpabio inquired whether there were any legal impediments to accepting the petition and she responded that there were none.
Thereafter, the Senate President instructed her to formally lay the petition before the Senate and was subsequently referred to the Ethics committee led by Senator Neda Imasuen, with a directive to report back to the plenary within four weeks after legislative review.
Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan had presented a petition of sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio during Wednesday plenary, which sparked controversy.
The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), had raised a point of order, citing Senate Standing Order 40.
He argued that the matter could not be entertained or referred to the Ethics Committee, as it was sub judice due to an ongoing court case involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of the Senate President.
Monguno also contended that the petition could not be considered since Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed it.
As a result, the Senate Ethics Committee dismissed the petition, declaring it “dead on arrival.”
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