Natasha Akpoti Accuses Prominent Figures of Sexual Harassment

According to Nwaebonyi, the sexual harassment claims made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, are a last-ditch effort to deflect attention away from proper disciplinary actions.

A recent red chamber seat reallocation sparked the conflict between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan.

After the change, Akpoti-Uduaghan adamantly objected to her new seat arrangement, saying it was done to silence her.

The Senate sent Akpoti-Uduaghan to the ethics, privileges, and public petitions committee on February 25 for disciplinary action.

When Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the Senate president of trying to make sexual advances toward her in his house and office on Friday, the matter reached a boiling point.

The allegation triggered responses from prominent Nigerians, including a lawsuit by Ekaette Akpabio, the senate president’s wife, while others demanded an investigation into the claims.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed his concern about the scandal and stated that the Senate ethics committee has to investigate the claims in a transparent manner.

"Both parties are required to submit to the investigation, cooperate fully with the committee, and stake their claims before it," Saraki continued.

"Diversionary, politically motivated sexual harassment stunt"

Nwaebonyi responded to the situation by claiming that Akpoti-Uduaghan's assertions were "politically motivated" and intended to influence public opinion.

He questioned why no earlier complaints were made to female colleagues or within the senate, claiming that her accusations only came to light after she was called in for disciplinary action.

While acknowledging Saraki's demand for protection and transparency, the legislator said it was "flawed" to draw a parallel between his experience and the present accusations against Akpabio.

"The issue in Saraki's case concerned his official responsibilities as Senate President—more especially, an allegation pertaining to the importation of an official vehicle," Nwaebonyi stated.

Knowing that the charge was untrue, Saraki put himself through scrutiny in an attempt to clear his name. His office was intimately involved in the administrative and procedural problem, and the Senate Ethics Committee's prompt resolution helped to rebuild trust in the organization.

Our case today, on the other hand, involves personal, unsupported, and well-timed allegations of sexual harassment that allegedly occurred more than a year ago but only came to light when the accuser was called in for disciplinary action.

"There was no prior complaint, no documentation of distress, no communication to her husband, and no revelation to female Senate colleagues."

Instead, in a last-ditch effort to deflect attention from proper disciplinary actions, the complaint was only made at the point of reckoning.

"We would be setting a dangerous precedent if we follow Saraki's argument to its logical conclusion—one where any gold digger or habitual liar can make an unsupported accusation and expect the Senate to stop while they are entertained."

Akpoti-Uduaghan's accusations were further characterized by the deputy chief whip as "wild claims, media noise, and no evidence."

Nwebonyi further pointed out that the female member was named head of the senate committee on local content prior to the alleged harassment, and he questioned why she never brought up the matter in the red chamber.

Nwebonyi reiterated Saraki's worries regarding the integrity of the senate but maintained that "baseless allegations" must not be allowed to control the body.

Instead of utilizing the media and the senate as a "shield against accountability," he urged Akpoti-Uduaghan to take legal action if she had valid claims.

The Ebonyi legislator stated, "The Senate must resist the temptation to legitimize a distraction campaign designed to avoid legitimate scrutiny—this case, however, is about a personal vendetta and a desperate attempt to escape disciplinary action."

However, he urged Nigerians and the Senate to maintain their resolve and not let blackmail control the institution's course.