Barely two weeks after she accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment and victimisation, the Senate on Thursday, slamed a six month suspension on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) for unruly and unethical behaviour unbecoming of a Senator.
Guided by the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petition which was read during plenary by the Chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen (Labour Party, Edo South), the Senate presided over by Senator Akpabio, said its action was informed by the violation of its Standing Rules 2023 as amended.
The committee in its report argued that the Kogi lawmaker brought its “presiding officer and the entire Senate in general to public opprobrium,”
While recommending for her suspension, the report further stressed that during the suspension which begins Friday, March 6, 2025, Senator Natasha is barred from a list of activities including all legislative activities forthwith.
It also ordered that “her office be locked up for the duration of her suspension and hand over all Senate properties in her possession to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
“That for the duration of her suspension she cannot come or be seen within the vicinity of the National Assembly including her staff.
“That her salaries and allowances including those of her legislative aides be suspended and withdrawal of all security details for the duration of her suspension and that for the period of her suspension she be barred from presenting herself to the public locally and internationally as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
It however resolved to reduce the tenure of the suspension to three months if she transmits a letter for consideration, wherein she is to apologise for her behaviour; as it also withdrew an earlier decision to stop the salaries and allowances of her aides following interventions by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Senator Ned Nwoko.
According to them, the aides should continue to earn their salaries and allowances though they are barred from accessing her office within the National Assembly.
Their principal`s (Sen. Natasha) salaries and allowances are however suspended, and her security details withdrawn for the duration of her suspension.
The report further pointed out that Senator Natasha violated order 6 (1) and (2) of the Senate Standing Orders by insisting to raise a point of order from a seat not allocated to her, thereby causing commotion and disruption of proceedings and violating order 66 (20).
It said her numerous actions since the start of the controversy undermined the moral sanctity of the hallowed chamber, while it maintained that refusal to appear before the ethics committee was “disdain and disrespectful to the committee and the Senate as a whole.”
Recall, on Tuesday, February 25, Senator Natasha protested the reallocation of her seat in the Chamber.
She also alleged that the Senate President had singled her out for victimisation for refusing his sexual advances.
According to her, a motion she sponsored seeking a probe into corruption in the Ajaokuta iron and steel company was refused attention by the Senate President as part of punishment for refusing alleged amorous moves.
But while testifying before the committee on ethics, code of conduct and public petitions, on the matter, the Chairman, Rules and Business, Senator Titus Sam (APC, Benue-North West), dismissed Sen. Natasha`s claims of suppression.
He explained that the motion was deferred to the next day to allow for a scheduled briefing involving Service Chiefs, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Ministers of Defence, Police Affairs, and interior, as well as Inspector General of Police.
While recalling that the motion was debated on February 27, Senator Zam explained that the Senate remained committed to transparency, accountability, and fairness in legislative proceedings.
In his testimony before the committee, Wednesday, the Deputy Director, Sergeant-At-Arms (DDSAA), Muktar Usman Daudawa, narrated that the seating readjustment affected about 10 Senators, and was approved by approved by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno.
“…All the Senators were guided to their new seats and they complied but Senator Natasha was shown to her new seat but she refused and insisted that she would not go anywhere and removed the name tag on her old seat and sat down and shouting and all efforts by other Senators to calm her proved abortive;
That she was advised by the Chief Whip to go to her new seat to enable her speak on a point of order but she insisted on raising a point of order on her old seat but was equally advised by the President of the Senate to move to her new seat to be recognized to speak, but she refused and as consequently ruled out of order; that she started shouting in the Chamber which was unparliamentary; all entreaties by some Distinguished Senators to make her remain calm fell on deaf ears, and she left the Chamber on her own when the session was in progress.”
Senator Natasha was absent throughout the more than two hours deliberation of the 30-man committee which was held on Wednesday, at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Earlier during Thursday’s plenary, the embattled lawmaker laid a petition signed by a member of her coonstituency alleging sexual harassment by the Senate President.
The petition was referred to the relevant committee for investigation, and thereafter to report back to the House in four weeks.
Her attempt to protest her suspension was cut short by a Sergeant-at-Arms who put off her microphone as she screamed, “this injustice shall not stand. The pursuit for justice…”
