Senator Natasha

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions has dismissed a petition filed on behalf of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, citing an ongoing court case as the reason for its decision.

The petition, submitted by one of her constituents, Zubairu Yakubu, accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office. However, the committee ruled that it could not deliberate on the matter due to a pending lawsuit filed against Akpoti-Uduaghan by Akpabio’s wife, Dr. Unoma Akpabio.

During the proceedings, tensions escalated as Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (APC – Ebonyi South) clashed with former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, who had accompanied Yakubu to defend the petition. A heated exchange erupted when Dr. Ezekwesili and others refused to take an oath before presenting their case. Nwebonyi reacted angrily, calling her an “insult to womanhood” and a “hooligan.”

Speaking to reporters afterward, Dr. Ezekwesili criticized the Senate for prioritizing its internal rules over constitutional provisions. She argued that the dismissal of the petition denied Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan a fair hearing, violating her fundamental rights.

Yakubu also voiced his disappointment, particularly over the committee’s refusal to allow the suspended senator to testify as his key witness. He stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan possessed critical documentary evidence to support the claims but was barred from entering the National Assembly due to her six-month suspension.

Legal counsel for the petitioner, Dr. Abiola Akinyode, accused the Senate of inconsistency in handling petitions. She questioned why Yakubu’s petition was entertained in the first place if it was to be dismissed on procedural grounds.

The controversy surrounding the case has sparked further debate on the Senate’s commitment to due process and fair hearing in addressing allegations against its leadership.