The man in the eye of the sexual harassment storm in Nigeria’s National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is the country’s Senate President, has flatly denied the allegations levelled against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central).
Speaking on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, during the resumption of plenary in the Senate, after a week’s recess, the former two-term governor of Akwa Ibom State stated that he has never harassed any woman at any time.
Shortly after he made the pronouncement, Sen. Natasha presented a petition under Order 40 formally accusing the Senate President of sexual harassment.
Obvious public distaste at the nature of the allegations manifested as a crowd, bearing banners, protested against Akpabio, seeking his ousting from the top legislative seat.
The developments were overshadowed by a court order obtained on Tuesday by Sen. Natasha which halted the activities of the Senate Ethics and Disciplinary Committee,which was investigating her over the allegations.
Akpabio Denies Allegations, Says He Was Raised Properly By Late Single Mother
During plenary on Wednesday, Akpabio said: “At no time did I ever harass any woman.I was raised very well by my late single mother, and I have always upheld respect for women.
“I was even awarded the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria.”
Akpabio had served as governor from 2007-2015.
However, barely had the words dried from Akpabio’s lips than Sen Natasha petitioned against him for alleged sexual harassment and abuse of office.
Subsequently, she sought permission to step forward and formally lay the petition before senators.
Consequently, the upper legislative chamber referred the petition to its Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, directing it to take action on the matter as soon as possible.
Natasha’s action appeared to be sequel to the Senate’s earlier stance not to investigate her allegations as there was no formal petition from her against the Senate President on the floor of the chamber.
Protests rock Abuja for Senator Natasha
Meanwhile, just outside the chamber, protests rocked Abuja, with protesters calling for Akpabio’s resignation.
Civil society groups and apparent supporters of Sen. Natasha, who converged on the National Assembly on Wednesday, called on Akpabio to quit the seat pending an investigation into the allegations against him.
From as early as 8:00 am, the protesters had stormed the nation’s legislative headquarters, mere hours ahead of plenary resumption.
Displaying banners with inscriptions some of which read ‘Akpabio Must Go’, ‘Protect Women’s Rights’, among others, they demanded accountability, urging senators to quiz Akpabio over what they described as the serious accusations against the nation’s number one lawmaker.
One of the protesters told newsmen that their objective was to see to transparent and unfettered investigation of the Senate President.
He said: “We are here to demand justice for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and to hold those in power accountable. No one is above the law.”
Though peaceful, with some security agents nearby monitoring the situation, however, police were later to disperse the protesters.
The police officers used tear gas to chase away the crowd, citing the need to halt a possible anarchy.
Apparently undaunted, the protesters relocated to the Unity Fountain in Abuja and continued the civic action.
Also, the judiciary has been drawn into the matter with Sen. Natasha approaching a Federal High Court in Abuja, which has issued an interim injunction restraining the Senate Ethics Committee from proceeding with its planned investigation of her actions on the allegations matter.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who issued the injunction on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, sequel to an ex parte application filed by counsels to Sen. Natasha, ordered a halt to all proceedings on the matter pending further judicial pronouncements.
Recall that on February 20, 2025, during a session in the nation’s upper legislative chamber, Sen. Natasha protested the reassignment of her seat without any prior notification by the Senate President. She said she would not occupy a new seat allocated to her, alleging that Akpabio had consistently undertaken actions that tended to undermine her and the interests of her constituency.
She further alleged that she had been targeted for sexual harassment by the Senate President, a position Unoma, the Senate President’s wife denied and proceeded to slam a multi-billion Naira defamation suit against the Kogi senator, who had earlier headed for court against Akpabio.