The Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) for six months following her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Her suspension was approved during Thursday’s plenary after the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions recommended disciplinary action against her.
As a result, she will be barred from accessing the National Assembly premises, and her salary, security details, and office privileges will be withdrawn for the duration of the suspension.
Additionally, her legislative aides will not receive their salaries.
The Senate ruled that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension will remain in effect for six months unless she submits a formal written apology.
The decision follows a tense standoff in the Senate, which began when Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Akpabio.
Upon arriving at a recent plenary session, she discovered that her nameplate had been removed and her seat reassigned, which she saw as an attempt to silence her.
Her protest led to a heated exchange on the Senate floor.
The matter was referred to the Senate Ethics Committee for review, and after deliberation, the committee initially recommended a six-month suspension.
However, following an appeal from Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), the Senate considered reducing the suspension to three months before ultimately upholding the original six-month penalty.
During the plenary, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, presented a report highlighting the negative impact of the incident on the Senate’s public image.
He noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions had caused significant disruption and called for decisive action to maintain order.
