Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been thrown out of the National Assembly for a period of six months based on the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.
The decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District was adopted after a majority vote, during Thursday’s plenary session. Senate president Godswill Akpabio called for the vote without allowing Akpoti-Uduaghan to speak.
This was a fall-out of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rejection of a seat allocated to her in the Senator last month. She was engaged in a shouting match with Senator Akpabio on the floor of the House and days later she accused the former Akwa Ibom governor of sexually harassing her.
She filled a petition, which was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, but there would be no hearing on the sexual harassment allegations: “The petition runs contrary to Senate rules and cannot be entertained,” said chairman of the ethics committee Senator Neda Imasuen.
And it seems the Senate wants to see her back for a long time. Majority of members voted against giving her suspension a second thought for the period of six months, she is banned from coming into the premises of the National Assembly, and her salaries and those of her legislative aides will also be suspended during this period. To appeal the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan must submit a written apology to the Senate for violating its rules.
“As Nigerians, we have a tradition; if you beat your child with the right hand, you draw that child with the left hand,” Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro.
