The Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPD) has urged the Senate to refrain from spending time and taxpayer resources investigating the sexual assault allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the civil society coalition emphasized that without a formal petition submitted to its Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions Committee, pursuing this matter would only serve as a distraction.
Barr. Francis Okereke Wainwei, the Executive Director of the coalition, called on the Senate to adhere strictly to its established protocols. He noted that the allegations made by Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan should not prevent the legislative body from addressing the disruption caused by the Kogi senator during its proceedings last Thursday.
He stated, “The Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria urges the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to remain undistracted by the sexual harassment claims made against Senate President Godswill O. Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and to concentrate on fulfilling its constitutional duties to the Nigerian populace.
“This appeal arises from our findings, which suggest that the primary intention behind the sexual harassment allegation may be to evade accountability from the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which is currently investigating Senator Natasha for violating Senate rules. It appears to be a calculated effort to shift focus away from her disciplinary actions.”
Several important questions arise regarding Sen. Natasha’s situation: Why has she not disclosed the sexual harassment to her husband until now? Why has she not utilized the Senate’s due process to seek redress for the alleged harassment that reportedly occurred over a year ago? Why did she not reach out to her female colleagues in the Senate for support in addressing her harassment? Why is the allegation surfacing now, coinciding with her summons for disciplinary action by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges?
We urge the Senate to strictly adhere to its established rules and parliamentary procedures. This commitment is essential to maintaining the integrity of the institution and ensuring due process, free from any undue influence or distractions. The Senate must concentrate on fulfilling its constitutional obligations to the Nigerian populace and refrain from expending valuable time and resources on trivial matters, such as Sen. Natasha’s informally presented sexual harassment claim against the Senate President.
It is worth noting that Natasha previously failed to substantiate similar allegations against former presidential aide Reno Omokri. The group has also criticized former Senate President Bukola Saraki for his perceived partisanship in this issue, condemning his call for the Senate President to step aside in favor of his Deputy during the investigation into the alleged harassment.
We express our disappointment that such remarks were made by a respected former parliamentarian who is well-versed in the Senate’s rules and procedures.
Mr. Saraki understands that for any allegation or issue to be investigated by the Senate, it must first be brought to the Senate’s attention or formally submitted for consideration. Since this matter was neither raised nor presented in the Senate, it raises the question of how the Senate could conduct an investigation.
Furthermore, the incident mentioned by Senator Saraki is significantly different from the current issue at hand. The situation during his tenure as Senate President involved matters that directly impacted his role and were duly raised in the Senate. In contrast, the sexual harassment allegation pertains to a private incident that allegedly occurred outside the Senate and does not directly influence the operations of the Senate President’s office, nor was it formally introduced to the Senate.
It is evident that Senator Saraki is leveraging this sexual harassment issue for political gain. He appears to be seeking approval and support from his party members in anticipation of the 2027 elections, while also attempting to demonstrate loyalty to his party as a partisan leader. However, such remarks lack patriotism and do not contribute positively to the nation, the coalition stated.
