Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has officially remitted an affidavit before the Notary Public of Nigeria, further restating allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and obstruction of legislative duties against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In the affidavit, which constitutes part of an ongoing petition which is already before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges & Public Petitions, for consideration, alleges that Akpabio made inappropriate advances towards Akpoti-Uduaghan and subsequently sought to frustrate her legislative activities after she rejected him.
In her sworn statement, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan spotlighted an alleged incident on December 8, 2023, when she, accompanied by her husband, visited Senator Akpabio’s country home in Akwa Ibom.
“During the visit, Senator Akpabio made unsolicited and inappropriate sexual advances towards me while attempting to show me around his house,” she stated.
She further alleged that Akpabio suggested bringing her back to his residence for a ‘quality moment’ and even mentioned converting a section of the house into a nightclub setting.
“When I rejected his advances, he began a systematic campaign of obstruction and intimidation against me within the Senate,” she added.
The affidavit says Akpabio deliberately refused to give attention to her motions on the Senate floor, including one concerning the revitalization of Ajaokuta Steel Company, which was listed at least five times but was never debated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also claimed that when she confronted Akpabio privately about the obstruction, he reiterated his advances, allegedly telling her:
“Natasha, I am the Chief Presiding Officer of the Senate, and you can enjoy a whole lot from me if you take care of me and make me happy.”
She described such pattern of intimidation as directly linked to her refusal to comply with Akpabio’s alleged demands.
Beyond the sexual harassment allegations, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused Akpabio of abusing his office to undermine her authority.
She cited a January
30, 2025 executive order by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mandating the citing of five mini-Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects in Ajaokuta, Kogi State. She alleged that due to an erroneous assumption that she influenced the project, Akpabio removed her as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board on February 4, 2025, without prior notice.
Furthermore, she accused Akpabio of launching media campaigns to push for the relocation of the LNG projects to the Niger Delta region.
Akpoti-Uduaghan highlighted that this is not the first time Akpabio has faced such accusations, citing former NDDC Acting Managing Director, Dr. Joi Nunieh, who had previously accused Akpabio of sexual harassment during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
The senator concluded by reserving the right to provide further evidence to substantiate her claims and emphasized that she filed the affidavit in good faith under the Oaths Act.
With the petition now before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges & Public Petitions, all eyes are on the upper legislative chamber to determine how the allegations against the Senate President will be handled.
As of the time of filing this report, Senate President Akpabio is yet to issue any official statement in response to the allegations.
