Nigeria's senate president denies sexually harassing colleague

Nigeria’s senate president denies sexually harassing colleague

Considered one of Nigeria’s most senior politicians, Godswill Akpabio, has denied allegations of sexual harassment introduced towards him by a fellow senator.

Senate President Akpabio advised Wednesday’s session that he had been raised very effectively by his late mom and had by no means harassed any girl.

In an interview with Come up Tv on Friday, senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio had made inappropriate advances in direction of her throughout a go to to his residence in southern Akwa Ibom state, on 8 December 2023.

She stated that Akpabio had taken her by the hand, led her round his home, and made sexual advances in direction of her whereas her husband walked behind them, speaking on his telephone.

She additional alleged that Akpabio had, on a separate event, insinuated that she ought to “care for him” if she needed her motions to obtain beneficial consideration within the senate.

The senator alleged that he was behaving like a college lecturer who constantly failed his pupil who had refused to sleep with him.

However this was denied by Akpabio.

“At no time did I ever harass any girl. I used to be raised very effectively by my late single mom, and I’ve all the time upheld respect for girls. I used to be even awarded essentially the most gender-friendly governor in Nigeria,” he famous.

The difficulty has generated enormous debate in Nigeria with many calling for an impartial investigation.

In a social media put up, certainly one of Akpabio’s predecessors as senate president Bukola Saraki stated the problems raised had been too severe to be merely brushed apart.

Earlier on Wednesday, two teams of protesters gathered on the meeting floor within the capital, Abuja – one backing Akpabio and the opposite in help of his colleague, chanting ”Akpabio should go.”

Senator Uduaghan used Wednesday’s plenary session to submit a proper petition calling for an investigation into Akpabio’s behaviour.

Because the president, Akpabio permitted Uduaghan to proceed, directing that her petition be referred to the senate committee on the code of conduct, ethics, and public petitions.

Earlier than turning into senate president lower than two years in the past, Akpabio was governor of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom state for eight years and in addition minister of Niger Delta affairs below former President Muhammadu Buhari.