The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions has officially dismissed a petition filed by A: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The petition, which alleged sexual harassment, was ruled as procedurally invalid and therefore could not be entertained by the committee.
During a hearing at the National Assembly on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Ethics Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, clarified the reasons for the dismissal. He stated that the petition did not comply with the Senate’s Standing Orders, specifically citing a violation of Order 40.
This rule stipulates that a senator cannot personally sign and submit a petition but must have it endorsed by another individual. Since Akpoti-Uduaghan had signed the petition herself, it was deemed inadmissible and dismissed outright.
Furthermore, Senator Imasuen pointed out that the matters raised in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition were already being addressed in court.
He emphasized that issues currently under judicial consideration are regarded as sub judice, meaning they cannot be deliberated upon by the Senate to avoid interference with ongoing legal proceedings.
“The petition that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan presented today is, in fact, dead on arrival. It directly violates Order 40, Subsection 4, which explicitly states that no senator may submit a petition signed by themselves. Given that she personally signed it, the committee cannot entertain it,” Imasuen explained.
Additionally, despite the committee’s formal invitation, Akpoti-Uduaghan did not appear before the panel for the hearing. Her absence raised further questions about the petition’s credibility and the intent behind filing it in its current form.
Some political observers speculate that her decision not to attend the hearing may have been influenced by the procedural flaws in her submission, making it unlikely that the petition would proceed.
This development has sparked conversations regarding procedural adherence in the Senate, particularly in cases involving allegations of misconduct against high-ranking officials.
While sexual harassment allegations are serious matters that require proper investigation, the Senate’s decision underscores the importance of following due process in raising such complaints.
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With the dismissal of the petition, it remains uncertain what steps Akpoti-Uduaghan may take next. She may choose to seek legal redress through the courts, given that some aspects of the case are already under judicial review.
However, for now, the Senate Committee has ruled that her petition cannot be considered under existing legislative guidelines.
