Natasha Akpoti’s Petition Against Akpabio, Dead On Arrival – Senate Panel

The Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges on Wednesday rejected the sexual harassment petition filed by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Earlier today, Akpoti-Uduaghan presented the petition on the Senate floor, accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment.
During a probe hearing at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Committee, addressed the petition filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Edo South Senator declared that the petition was “dead on arrival,” pointing to a violation of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Orders as the reason for its dismissal.
Imasuen disclosed that Akpoti-Uduaghan signed the petition herself instead of having it endorsed by another individual, thereby rendering it procedurally invalid, due to violations of due process and legal limitations.
He said: “The petition that she (Natasha) presented today is actually dead on arrival; it runs contrary to Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by him or herself. Since that petition was signed by her, it will not be entertained by this committee.
“Now I can understand why she’s not here. She’s probably not here on the orders of her lawyers.