The Senate said on Saturday that the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was not suspended over her sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Rather, the upper chamber said the senator was suspended due to her flagrant disobedience to Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended).
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, made the clarifications in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
Bamidele said the clarification had become necessary following what he called deliberate misinformation and false narratives being circulated by certain media organisations on the matter.
He said Akpoti-Uduaghan was also suspended because of her “unparliamentary behavior” during Senate plenaries and proceedings.
The Senate had based Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension for six months on the report of its Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
The senator was suspended on Thursday over her alleged misconduct and refusal to comply with the Senate’s sitting arrangement during the plenary.
The suspension was, however, with a proviso that if the senator could submit a written apology, the leadership of the red chamber might consider lifting the suspension before the expiration of the six-month period.
Bamidele said: “Rather than submitting to the authority of the senate, Akpoti-Uduaghan had been misinforming the unsuspecting public that she was suspended because she accused the senate president of sexual harassment.”
He stressed that the disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan was a response to her repeated violations of legislative decorum.
“Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition on sexual harassment failed to meet the clear and established procedural requirements for submitting petitions to the Senate.
“It has come to the attention of the Senate that some media reports are attempting to falsely suggest that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was due to allegations of sexual harassment.
“This is completely untrue, misleading, and a calculated attempt to distort the facts.
“If Akpoti-Uduaghan had strictly followed our guiding principles, the senate would have treated her petition based on merit, in line with its practice.
“But she never obeyed the established practices of the institution where she was serving,” he added.
The majority leader specifically said the senator’s suspension was the “decision of the Committee of the Whole of the Senate, following the submission of a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges.”
According to him, the report found Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of violating Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) and recommended her immediate suspension.
“As established in the findings of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, the disciplinary action was a response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s repeated violations of legislative decorum, stated as follows:
“Refusing to sit in her assigned seat during plenary on February 25 despite multiple pleas from the Minority Leader and other ranking senators—an act of open defiance and disorderly conduct.
“Speaking without being recognised by the presiding officer in clear violation of parliamentary practices and procedures on February 25.
“Engaging in unruly and disruptive behaviour, obstructing the orderly conduct of senate proceedings.
“Making abusive and disrespectful remarks against the leadership of the Senate.
“Defying and refusing to comply with the summons of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges mandated to investigate cases of misconduct,” he concluded.
Source: Ripples
