February 28 (THEWILL) – The lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of persistent sexual advances.
THEWILL had reported that tensions flared at Senate plenary last Thursday, as dispute over seating arrangements led to a heated exchange between Natasha and Akpabio. The commotion began after the Kogi Senator voiced her displeasure at the change of her seat.
On Tuesday, Natasha filed a N100.3 billion defamation suit against Akpabio at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
While the Senate had referred Natasha to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for disciplinary action for her conduct, the lawmaker, on Thursday, demanded live broadcast of the Committee’s hearing.
Speaking in Abuja during an interview on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ monitored by THEWILL on Friday, Natasha alleged that Akpabio’s action against her was a direct consequence of her refusal to do his bidding.
She accused the Senate President of sexual advances even in the presence of her husband, claiming that his hostility towards her stems from her refusal to entertain them.
“My refusal to yield to his consistent advances, both within and outside the country, is the reason behind the victimisation I face in the Senate”, she stated.
Recalling the incident, she narrated, “It all started on the 8th of December 2023, which was a day before his birthday and my birthday; we are birthday mates.
“We were all in Akwa Ibom because he had a big fanfare in the stadium. Myself, my husband and a few of his close friends, we went to Akwa Ibom and at first we were at Ikot Ekpene, where his house is then we all moved to his house in Uyo.
“It was about 8 pm and he held my hand and said he wanted to show me around his house.
“My husband was walking behind us. Just the three of us. We were walking around from room to room. He showed me the beautiful interior.
“He noticed that he has to be spaced while still holding my hand. My husband was behind, still on his phone, but he was watching whenever he could, and then he got to this particular sitting room and he said, Do you like my house?
“I said, of course, sir. Every room, beautiful, nice interior, quality taste. He said, Now that you’re a senator, I’m going to create time for us to come spend quality moments here. You will enjoy it.
“At that point, I just pulled away and I was like, ‘I don’t really understand what exactly that meant.’ But then, when I turned around, he was already near me, and the way my husband looked at me and looked at him, I was beginning to wonder, did he hear part of that inciting statement or not?
“And then the Senate President too, I saw that he also had that thought like, did my husband hear the invitation to treat or not?
“So then the Senate President now said, oh, by the way, let me show you my chapel. He has a chapel in his house as well.
“So to the chapel. I know we walked in silence and all. So that evening before we left the Senate President’s house at about 11 midnight to the Four Point Hotel, my husband asked me, Natasha, what did the Senate President tell you. What was he telling you?
“I thought, should I tell him that he was speaking about bringing me in here at a special time for us to have a good time? Or should I just kill it there?
“I just gave him some words to mask what was said. After, when we laid in bed to my right and my husband wrapped his hands around me and he said, My love, you know you can tell me anything.
“What did the Senate President tell you? Again, I was like, Don’t you believe me?
“I said nothing, nothing. Moreover, it’s my birthday in a few minutes let’s just be happy.”
On the controversial change in sitting arrangement fallout, Natasha acknowledged that Order 10 of the Senate Rules requires a senator to speak from their designated seat, but argued that in cases concerning privileges, lawmakers are allowed to speak from any position.
When asked why her three female colleagues in the Senate had not spoken up in her defence, she said Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), once called her to condemn her for filing a defamation suit against the Senate President but not one of them has expressed or shown her solidarity.
Responding to Akpabio’s recent comments alluding to nightclubs, Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that it was not a mere slip of the tongue as “Out of the abundant of the heart, the mouth speaketh.”
She further claimed that the statement was made in the backdrop of the Senate President previously offering to organise a party resembling a nightclub where they could “have fun.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
