Senator Natasha Suspended For Six Months

The Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghen for six months over her dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

“That the Senate do suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months for her total violation of the Senate Standing Rules (2023 as amended for bringing the presiding officer and the entire Nigerian Senate to public opprobrium,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio said while reading out the recommendations of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct who were probing her claims of sexual harassment.

Despite efforts by some senators to reduce the suspension period to three months, the Senate, in a majority vote, sustained the initial decision

However, the lawmakers ruled that the suspension could be lifted or reduced if she tenders a written apology.

“For the Senate to consider lifting this suspension or reducing the tenure of the suspension, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan shall submit a written apology to the Senate before her reconsideration by the Nigerian Senate,” Akpabio said at the Red Chamber on Thursday.

Following her suspension, the Kogi Central lawmaker was escorted out of the chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms, but before she left she declared that “this injustice would not be sustained”.