BREAKING: Senate suspends Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months
BREAKING: Senate suspends Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been suspended by the Nigerian Senate for six months. This development is coming amid the sexual harassment allegation she levied against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions recommended her suspension on Thursday, March 6, 2024.
During the period of the suspension, the committee stated that her salary and security details will be withdrawn.
The committee also recommended that Senator Natasha should not be seen anywhere around the National Assembly during her suspension period.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension stems from a controversy surrounding her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The dispute began when Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, formally accused Akpabio of misconduct, submitting a petition before the Senate.
The ex-Minister was one of those dropped recently by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She was alleged to have violated procurement process and diverted public funds of about N138million in the course of disbursing the 2023 budgeted funds for the Ministry.
She arrived in the anti-graft commission headquarters around 11:00 am and was still facing interrogators on her alleged involvement in the fraud as at press time.
Investigations by the EFCC showed that funds donated for the funding of P- Bat Cares for Women Initiative were diverted.
EFCC detectives were considering other clues as part of the ongoing investigation.
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Desist from parading yourself as King – Governor warns Monarch
Desist from parading yourself as King – Governor warns Monarch
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has intervened in the Oba community leadership dispute, halting Augustine Chinedu Emelube from presenting himself as the community’s monarch.
Hon. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, the state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, issued the statement on behalf of the governor, declaring that Emelube’s election was illegal.
Nwabunwanne clarified that the election was conducted while a court case regarding the traditional rulership process was still pending, rendering the election invalid and not recognized by the state government.
The Commissioner further explained that there is no official traditional ruler or Igwe cabinet in Oba due to the ongoing legal matter concerning the election’s legitimacy.
Reacting to the governor’s decision, Chukwuma Ananti, a rival contestant in the disputed election, applauded the move.
He praised the governor for halting Emelube’s claim to the throne, urging for the full implementation of a consent judgment, which stipulates that the Oba monarch election must follow a zoning arrangement.
Ananti also called for the immediate suspension of the community’s president-general, accusing him of bias in the election process.
“The Oba Igweship election was supposed to be concluded according to the zoning agreement, as per the consent judgment. Despite this, the president-general ignored the court’s directive and proceeded with an illegal election,” Ananti told reporters.
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First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu reacts to s3xual harassment allegations rocking Senate
First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu reacts to s3xual harassment allegations rocking Senate
AThe First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, says the senate is taking the necessary steps over the sexual harassment allegations by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
While reacting to the raging issue in Abuja on Thursday, Mrs Tinubu said that the senate, being the apex legislative chamber in the country, should not be a place where such things should happen.
“I know what is going on in the Senate; you will say why am I not taking a position; I believe that the senate is doing what is needful.
‘This is because the senate is a mature chamber and it should be treated with respect.
“It is also an honour for anyone who happens to be there; I was there for 12 years,” she said.
Meanwhile, the senate has suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan over what it called ‘total violation of the Senate Standing Rules 2023, as amended’.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was sequel to the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, led by Sen. Neda Imaseun, during the plenary. (NAN)