₦airaland Forum

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has once again brought before the Senate a petition alleging sexual harassment from Senate President Godswill Akpabio. But this time, it was signed by her constituents.

During the plenary on Thursday, Senator Natasha was asked whether the matter was already before any court of law. But she said it was not. Following protocol, the lawmaker was directed to formally submit the petition, after which it was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for investigation.

The committee has been given four weeks to conduct its probe and report to the Senate.

This marks the second time the Kogi Central lawmaker has raised the allegation in the chamber. A previous petition was dismissed on Wednesday owing to procedural irregularities.

Chief Whip Calls Out Kogi Lawmaker

Meanwhile, there was a slightly tense moment before the start of Thursday’s plenary as the Senate Chief Whip Tahir Munguno raised concern over Senator Natasha’s repeated breach of the Senate rules regarding protocol before proceedings.

Citing Order 55, Rule 1, Senator Munguno noted that all senators must stand still upon the entry of the presiding officer until they have taken their seats. He alleged that Senator Natasha had persistently violated this rule, adding that the issue had been widely reported in the media.

“I had to send one of the Sergeants-at-Arms to inform her that she was in breach of the rule,” he stated. “Mr. President, if you are seeking refuge under Order 10 of the rule book, then you cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time. It is the institution that she is disrespecting”.


Addressing her directly, Munguno urged her to comply with the Senate’s regulations and avoid further violations.

“Senator Natasha, as my good friend and colleague, please ensure you comply and do not continue breaching the rules,” he said.

emkz:
She is walking alone in the midst of vipers and scorpions.

The gang up against her is not something she can surmount.

The mistake she made was that she should have obeyed that change of her seat and submit a petition on the floor of the senate. After going to Arise News to commence a media trial, she should have continued the media trial outside the senate. That mistake cannot be undone. By coming back to the senate to submit a petition, they'd do everything to embarrass her as we are seeing now.

In fighting an establishment like the senate, there is a method which must be followed.

(1) Know the rules to the letter
(2) Build your network within and outside the senate. There are disgruntled senators against the leadership. Identify with them and carry them along with a deep commitment to secrecy.
(3) Along with those you work with, NEVER disclose your war strategies. If that petition was submitted on the floor of the senate before blowing the matter open in the press, the element of surprise will catch the senate leadership unawares.
(4) Considering that the remote cause of the petition was the fallout from the allocation of seats, people are now divided whether it is not an instrument of blackmail as an afterthought. In other words, they are asking why the matter was not reported since.

Senator Natasha Akpoti, do not expect that you'd get fair hearing from the senate. You are seen as a traitor and someone who wants to single-handedly institute a coup in the senate. They'd sink you. They'd ostracize you. Expect it. You can't win this fight in their chambers. Look at it: how many of your female colleagues have openly supported you? Infact, they say you are too close to Akpabio and probably deserved the proposition. They are even pushing the narrative of character flaws. I'd advise you to prepare for what is to come.

I wish you peace and hope you find closure in this madness.

Paraman:
The Senate president is lenient on her

MASTAkiLLAh:
Akpabio should step aside immediately for investigations to take place and if she cannot prove her allegations, he should sue her to court

Built2last:
what if this woman is right?

Just think, what if it's your sister that got home and told you that a man in high authority harrased her. will you tell the man that he was lenient on your sister

Paraman:
Is she also right when she accuse Reno Omokiri of sexually assaulting her?

Exceed15:
Natasha is turning the seat she's occupying as a personal show forgetting she's representing the people of kogi State