The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stated on Saturday that the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended by the Senate for six months, traumatized him and others.
Following the sentence imposed on Natasha, Akpabio faced widespread condemnation.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, warned the Senate against creating a toxic political environment for women.
Major opposition parties in the country have also voiced outrage at how the issue was handled.
However, Akpabio maintained his innocence, claiming that none of the allegations she made were accurate.
Speaking at an event commemorating International Women’s Day, Akpabio expressed concern that he was just Natasha’s latest victim, claiming that Natasha’s previous allegations had proven false.
He said,’ It was only yesterday that I realized that what we are talking about only happened when there was a change of seat. That is when hell was let loose, and all sorts of allegations came up, only after the change of seat and change of committee, which my Senators know to happen from time to time.
“This is said to have happened on December 8, a day before my birthday, which was celebrated in the Stadium in 2023. So from the 8th of December 2023, I never heard, my wife never heard, no Nigerian ever heard, and even the husband never heard any issue of sexual harassment until her committee was changed and then her seat was changed.
“Have you ever wondered about the trauma caused by that same woman on the other people she has accused in the past? None has been proven so far. Do you even wonder about the trauma this caused to the 10th Senate and the image of the Senate with all these useless allegations? I have refrained from making a statement.
“Look at these beautiful women. They have come across me so many times. Have I ever harassed any one of you? Or is the person thinking that you are not beautiful?”
