The Senate Spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), has dismissed the allegations of sexual harassment against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, urging Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) to submit to the Senate rules.
Adaramodu described the sexual harassment allegations as a storm in a teacup.
Adaramodu made these remarks on Monday during an appearance on the Arise TV programme, Morning Show.
The Senate spokesman asserted that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had not submitted a formal petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for investigation. He stated that the Senate would not respond to matters raised on a television programme, emphasising that its affairs must be conducted solely within the confines of the Red Chamber.
He stated: “The Senate does not conduct its affairs based on what is trending on social media.
There must be a formal petition or a matter raised before the Senate before any investigation can occur.“
Regarding the controversy surrounding seating arrangements, Senator Adaramodu maintained that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must adhere to the Senate‘s rules.
Citing Order 6 of the Senate rules stipulating that the Senate President assign seats to senators, Senator Adaramodu declared that all lawmakers are expected to speak from their designated seats. Any breach of this rule undermines order in the chamber. He argued that if a senator follows the proper procedure in raising a point of order, no Senate President would deny him or her recognition.
He also dismissed the insinuation that the President of the Senate could intimidate his colleagues by denying them recognition, asserting that all senators are equal within the chamber.
The Senate spokesman further aligned himself with his colleagues who rejected the call by former Senate President Bukola Saraki for Senator Godswill Akpabio to submit himself to an open investigation to clear both himself and the Senate as an institution from the allegations raised by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
There is currently no formal matter before the Senate regarding these allegations. The only issue before the Senate is Senator Natasha’s non-compliance with the standing orders.“
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