Suspended Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has likened the Nigerian Senate to a cult, alleging that lawmakers are afraid to express dissenting views due to fear of retaliation.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC, the Kogi Central Senator claimed that her six-month suspension for “gross misconduct” was a deliberate attempt to silence her.
“I am being victimized. My suspension is a means of silencing me,” she stated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexually harassing her, describing an alleged incident at his country home.
“He held my hand and squeezed it in a very suggestive way. We women know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in that manner,” she said. “He then told me, ‘Now that you’re in the Senate, I’ll create an opportunity for us to have a good moment here.’”
She further alleged that Akpabio made inappropriate remarks about her marital status in the Senate chamber.
“There was a time I rushed to work and forgot to wear my ring. There were about five senators present when Akpabio remarked, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring. Is this an invitation to treat?’”
Reacting to the claims, Senate Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwaebonyi dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations, insisting that Akpabio never made any advances toward her.
“Senator Natasha’s legislative activities show that the claim of being silenced is not true,” Nwaebonyi told the BBC.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended on March 6 after failing to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges to address allegations against her.
