The Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months following her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The suspension, announced on Thursday, March 6, 2024, was based on recommendations from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions. As part of the disciplinary action, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s salary and security details will be withdrawn, and she will be barred from accessing the National Assembly premises. Additionally, her office will be locked, and her legislative aides will not receive their salaries during the suspension.
Her suspension stemmed from a heated confrontation in the Senate after she protested the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio. Upon arriving at a plenary session, Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered that her nameplate had been removed and her seat reassigned, a move she described as an attempt to silence her. When she challenged the decision, the matter was referred to the Senate Ethics Committee for review.
During deliberations, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro supported the committee’s findings, stating that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions warranted disciplinary measures, likening the move to “correcting a child” in line with Nigerian cultural norms. The Senate subsequently voted on her suspension, with the majority supporting the Ethics Committee’s report.
Initially, the committee had recommended a six-month suspension, but it was later reduced to three months following a plea from Senator Moro. However, the Senate ultimately upheld the full six-month suspension, ruling that Akpoti-Uduaghan would only be reinstated if she submitted a formal written apology.
The controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension has drawn reactions, with some calling it a politically motivated attempt to suppress dissent. Meanwhile, the Senate has defended its decision, citing a need to maintain order and discipline within the legislative chamber.
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