The Nigerian Senate has suspended female Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months after she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual assault. The Senate’s ethics committee dismissed her claims for procedural violations, leading to criticisms regarding the handling of the case and raising broader concerns over women’s representation in Nigerian governance. Akpoti-Uduaghan has initiated a lawsuit against Akpabio.
The Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following her allegations of sexual assault against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. This suspension includes barring her from her office and revoking her allowances and security for a duration of six months, as per the Senate’s ethics committee recommendations. The committee dismissed her allegations, citing violations of procedural rules.
During the suspension process, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed her outrage, stating, “This injustice will not be sustained,” after being prevented from speaking and escorted out by security personnel. Senate President Akpabio has publicly denied any allegations of misconduct.
According to the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, the representation of women in Nigeria’s parliament has reached a historically low point since the country re-established democratic governance in 1999. This incident marks a rare occurrence concerning sexual assault allegations within the parliamentary sphere.
In 2016, Senator Dino Melaye faced allegations of threatening to sexually assault then-Senator Remi Tinubu, but no charges were filed. Senate majority leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan utilize her suspension period to familiarize herself with Senate regulations, questioning her motivations behind the accusations.
Critics such as Chioma Agwuegbo, head of TechHerNG, a women’s rights organization, have criticized the ethics committee’s approach, claiming partiality. Agwoti-Uduaghan is now pursuing a lawsuit against Akpabio for N100 billion ($64,000) in damages but has not commented publicly on the matter.
The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Nigerian Senate, following her accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has raised significant concerns regarding gender representation and the treatment of sexual assault allegations within the legislative framework. As the case unfolds, it highlights the challenges faced by women in Nigerian politics and the necessity for a re-evaluation of the Senate’s ethics protocols.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
