Senate suspends Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Akpabio

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan—Kogi Central

|Published 10:30 AM ET, Thursday March 6, 2025|

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been suspended from the Nigerian Senate for six months following her public allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The suspension, effective immediately, includes forfeiture of her salary and withdrawal of official security details during this period.

​The suspension followed a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, submitted to the Committee of the Whole, citing several infractions on the Rules and Orders of the Senate.

The Committee Chairman, Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen, representing Edo South Senatorial District, submitted that the committee carried out an investigation on Wednesday, during which the female lawmaker was afforded the opportunity to state her own side of the story.

Detailing the proceedings of the committee’s investigative hearing, he said testimonies were taken to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the allegation raised by the respondent, in line with the mandate of the committee.

Senator Imasuen recalled that on Wednesday last week, the respondent caused “chaos and a rowdy session” when she refused a seat assigned to her and engaged in a shouting match, in discordance with the relevant provisions of the Rules and Orders of the Senate.

In response to her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan has vehemently rejected the decision, describing it as unfair and vowing to contest it. Before her microphone was cut off and she was escorted out of the Senate chamber, she declared, “This injustice will not be sustained.” ​

Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, has commented on the allegations, expressing her belief that the Senate is taking necessary steps to address the issue. She emphasized that the Senate chamber should be a place of honor, not controversy, and urged Nigerian women to assert themselves in leadership roles and not be marginalized. ​

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