Here is a blow-by-blow account of what transpired between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senator Godswill Akpabio, Nigeria’s Senate President
The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he blocked her legislative motions after she rejected his advances.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan made the claims during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, stating that her refusal to comply with Akpabio’s alleged requests led to persistent harassment and political retaliation.
According to her, the incident began on December 8, 2023, when she and her husband attended a pre-birthday gathering hosted by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio at his residence in Uyo.
Recounting the event, she said:
“Many people don’t know about what I am about to say but I am going to speak my own truth. The Senate President is allowed to counter that.
We were all in Akwa Ibom because he had a big funfare at the stadium—myself, my husband and a few of his close friends. At first, we were in Ikot Epkene. Then we all moved to his house in Uyo. Then, he held my hands and said he wanted to show me round the house, my husband was walking behind us—just three of us. He showed me the beautiful interior and talked about who and who did the beautiful interiors. Then, I noticed that he hastened his pace while still holding my hands and my husband was behind us, still on his phone but he was catching up whenever he could. Then, he (Akpabio) got to a particular sitting room and he said, ‘do you like my house?’ I said, ‘of course sir, every room is beautiful, nice interior, quality taste. He said, ‘Now, that you are a Senator, I’m going to create time for us to come spend quality moments here. You will enjoy it.’ At that point, I just hold away and I don’t really understand what exactly that meant. But then, I turned around and saw my husband was already near me and the way my husband looked at me and I looked at him, I wondered if he heard part of that statement or not.
In February, I wanted to move a motion on the investigation on the corrupt practices at Ajaokuta Steel Company. I listed that motion five times and it was the sixth time that it was listed on the Order paper that was approved (many senators can testify to that)
Each time the motion is listed, just before he takes it, he says ‘oh! Senator Natasha, we can’t take this motion because the rules of the Senate cannot accommodate it. He would speak on others, let it drag so that just before my motion is taken, the time would be well spent.
When I went to meet him in his office, and said, Senate President, you know how important this Ajaokuta Steel Company is to my people and to Nigerians. I’ve noticed that you have stepped down this motion, why cant you take this motion? Many senators told me to go and speak with him.
He then said, ‘Natasha, I am the Chief Presiding Officer of the Senate. You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.’ I said, ‘sir, I will pretend that I didn’t hear this. He said, ‘well, the ball is in your court.’ I left his office, when I got home, I didn’t tell my husband what happened but I told him to help speak to the Senate President to allow my motion sail through. I told the Deputy Senate President , Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and others to intervene but I didn’t tell them what happened. My husband had to take a trip to London (then the Senate President was in London) met with him and pleaded with the Senate President to allow me take the motion on Ajaokuta. He now told my husband that he was protecting me. Finally, when the motion was taken, it was the Deputy Senate President who sat. The Senate President stood up and walked out.
She further alleged that Akpabio orchestrated a seat reassignment in the Senate chamber as part of an effort to silence her.
“I was approached by a sergeant-at-arms and told that my seat had been changed by the Senate President. Some senators warned me that it was a trap,” she stated.