By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
The Senate has dismissed a petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, citing procedural irregularities.
The petition, which alleged sexual harassment, was declared “dead on arrival” by Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions.
Imasuen stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan breached Senate rules by signing the petition herself instead of having it endorsed by another individual.
He also noted that the issues raised were already in court.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reported to have failed to appear before the committee during its scheduled session, which began nearly an hour late.
The matter was referred to the Ethics Committee two weeks ago after she publicly challenged Akpabio over seat allocation and repeated her allegations in a media interview.
The Senate has now tasked the Ethics Committee with further reviewing the case.