The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has denied the sexual harassment allegation levied against him by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Senator Natasha formally submitted a petition to the Senate, reinforcing her allegation against Akpabio.
The lawmaker representing Kogi Central stated that she had previously made the allegations during an interview on a national broadcast television station but was now officially presenting them before the Senate.
Responding to the petition, Akpabio said he has never attempted any sexual harassment against any woman.
To further disprove Senator Natasha’s claim, Akpabio said he has four daughters, adding while serving as governor of Akwa-Ibom State, he was honoured with “the most gender-friendly governor award.”
“I would like to state clearly that at no time did I ever attempt any sexual harassment on the said Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan or any other woman for that matter. I and my siblings were raised very well by my late single mother, who died in the year 2000.
“I also wish to state that I have four beautiful daughters. So at no time will I ever harass any woman and I have never done so.
“In addition, even as a state governor, I was awarded various awards, one of them was the one you wished to know, “the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria.” I served between 2007 and 2015, to God be the glory,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President, therefore, urged the public and the media not to jump to conclusions and wait for the court verdict on the matter.
“I urge all Nigerians, particularly the media and members of the social media, to await the court decision and, please, do not jump to conclusions on matters of mere allegations,” he said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with Akpabio on February 20 over seating arrangements. She was thereafter referred to the senate’s disciplinary panel for further action.
On February 25, she filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against the senate president.
A federal high court in Abuja has restrained the senate from commencing disciplinary hearings against the Kogi lawmaker.
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