Akpabio: Ezekwesili Seeks Independent Probe, Public Hearing On Natasha’s Sexual Harassment Petition

Former Minister of Education and human rights advocate, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has demanded an independent investigation into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, condemning what she described as a lack of transparency in the handling of the alleged sexual harassment case.

In a post on her X handle on Thursday, Ezekwesili called on the Nigerian Senate to take immediate action to restore public confidence in its investigative process.

She outlined two key demands: the urgent appointment of an independent investigator to handle the petition, and the elevation of the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee’s proceedings on the matter to a public hearing for full transparency.

“The Petition of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan must be independently investigated and openly discussed in a public hearing that the accused does not preside,” she stated.

Ezekwesili criticised the Senate’s approach to the matter, stressing that the National Assembly belongs to the Nigerian people, not politicians.

“No individual nor collection of individuals and their groups can capture a Public Institution and use it to their personal benefit or advantage,” she declared.

The former minister also condemned the Senate’s decision to dismiss Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition, describing it as a “democratic aberration” that cannot stand.

“What happened yesterday (Wednesday) in the Senate Chamber, where a Senate President presided over a grave matter involving him, was farcical and a blot on our democracy,” she remarked.

Ezekwesili emphasised that the petition should be given the seriousness it deserves, urging the Senate to act swiftly to protect its institutional integrity.

“It is in our Public Interest that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition be urgently given the seriousness it deserves to defend the institutional integrity of our Senate,” she wrote.

The call for an independent probe and public hearing came amid growing concerns over the Senate’s handling of allegations against its leadership. Many Nigerians and civil society organisations have echoed similar sentiments, demanding accountability and due process.