Ilorin, Kwara – Bukola Saraki, the president of the eighth Senate, has called for the respect of the Senate and National Assembly as an institution and an open investigation in the sexual harassment allegation levelled against Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Natasha, in a television interview on Friday, February 28, raised the allegation against the Senate president, stating that her refusal for sexual advances from Akpabio was the beginning of her dilemma at the Senate.
Natasha accused Akpabio
She alleged that she has been tactically silenced by the Akpabio-led leadership of the Senate following his first encounter at the plenary. In one of the issues raised, the senator recalled that Akpabio once told her to give him “enjoyment” so that her bill can be passed.
Before her interview, Natasha had a confrontation with the Senate President during plenary over sitting arrangement. The issue had been referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics.
Speaking on the allegation on Saturday, March 1, Saraki called for an open investigation on the allegation and counter-allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office and disregard for the Senate standing rules between Akpabio and Natasha.
Saraki called for respect of Senate standing order
Saraki, who advocated for the protection of the Senate integrity and the institution of the National Assembly, said there is a need to make the investigation open to ascertain the truth and protect the Senate integrity.
In a tweet, Saraki, who is a two-term governor of Saraki and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called on the leadership of the 10th Senate to subject Akpabio and Natasha to an open investigation to get to the root of the matter. He recalled that there was a precedent of such an incident when he was the Senate President
“I believe that the two parties in this dispute and their supporters in and out of the chamber should be mindful of the impact of their actions, inactions, reactions, claims, and counter-claims to be sure that nothing is done to rubbish the institution. The constitution, laws of the country, rules of the Senate as well as parliamentary conventions and practices should be adhered to in resolving the issue.”
See his tweet here
