JUST-IN: Despite Admitting Natasha’s Petition Against Akpabio At Plenary, Senate C’ttee Says It’s Dead On Arrival

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions has dismissed the petition bordering on alleged sexual harassment and abuse of office filed by the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

LEADERSHIP reports that Senator Natasha had earlier on Wednesday formally presented the petition at the Senate plenary and was admitted and subsequently referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for investigation.

But, unlike the usual practice of the Senate to fix a particular period of time for its Standing or Adhoc Committees to carry their legislative assignment, Akpabio, who presided at Wednesday session, ruled that the investigative committee should only report back to the plenary “as soon as practicable.”

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Also, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Neda Imasuen, stated that Natasha’s petition against Akpabio was dead on arrival over a technical flaw.

Imasuen disclosed this on Wednesday during the committee’s hearing into allegations of misconduct against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the National Assembly complex.

The Edo South Senator stated that the petition was “dead on arrival,” citing a breach of Order 40 of the Senate Standing Order.

According to Imasuen, Akpoti-Uduaghan signed the petition herself instead of having it endorsed by another individual, rendering it procedurally invalid.

The Edo lawmaker also noted that the issues raised in the petition were already in court, making them subjudice.

“The petition that she (Natasha) presented today is actually dead on arrival; it runs contrary to Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by him or herself. Since that petition was signed by her, it will not be entertained by this committee,” he said.

Despite the committee’s scheduled sitting, Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, failed to appear before the panel apparently in obedience to the order of the court.