Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he is punishing her for refusing his advances.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE TV on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan detailed her allegations against Akpabio, stating that her husband was a witness and that she had evidence, including printed screenshots of their conversations.
She challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) to retrieve their chat records, alleging that Akpabio frequently contacted her via WhatsApp.
“My issue with Akpabio started on 8th of December, 2023, when myself and my husband visited Akwa Ibom for Senator Akpabio’s birthday.”
“Akpabio was showing me around his house and was holding my hands with my husband following behind us when he said he wants me to come and be spending special moments in his house. My husband heard him and later told me not to travel abroad alone or be with the Senate President alone,” she stated.
She also linked her ongoing dispute with Akpabio to her push for a motion on the investigation of corruption in Ajaokuta Steel Company, claiming that he repeatedly blocked it.
“In February, I wanted to move a motion for the investigation on the ills of the corrupt practice in Ajaokuta Steel Company. I listed that motion five times. It was the sixth time that it was listed on the order paper that was approved. Many senators can testify to that.
“Before the motion made the order paper, I went to the Senate President in his office, and I said, ‘Senate President, you know how important this Ajaokuta Steel Company is to me, you know how important it is to my people and to Nigerians. I’ve noticed that you have stepped down this motion.’ As a matter of fact, a number of senators told me to see him and plead with him so that he would take it. I was like, ‘Sir, please, why can’t you take this motion? It’s very important.’ Then, it was listed the third time and stepped down.
“He then said, ‘Natasha, I’m the Chief presiding officer of the Senate, you can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me. Make me happy.’ At that point, I said, ‘Sir, I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear this.’ He said, ‘Well, the ball is in your court.’ I left his office.
“My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”
Her allegations come amid an ongoing dispute with Akpabio, which escalated after she protested the unauthorized change of her Senate seat.
The matter was referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun (LP, Edo South), for a review within two weeks.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has also filed a N100.3 billion fundamental human rights lawsuit against Akpabio.
Efforts to get a response from Akpabio’s media aide, Jackson Udom, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to multiple calls from Daily Gazette on Friday morning.
