Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili has strongly criticized the Nigerian Senate’s handling of sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili condemned the Senate’s decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, describing it as a “vicious abuse of power” and a “desecration of our public institution”.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he made inappropriate remarks and advances towards her. In response, the Senate’s Ethics Committee dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, citing that she had personally signed it instead of having another senator endorse it, and that the matter was sub judice due to ongoing court proceedings.
Ezekwesili has called for Akpabio to step aside temporarily to allow for an independent investigation into the allegations. She suggested that Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin should oversee a session to reverse Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should conduct the investigation, as sexual harassment falls under its purview .
The situation has sparked widespread public outcry, with women’s rights groups organizing protests under the banner “We are all Natasha” to demand accountability and transparency in addressing sexual harassment claims within Nigeria’s political institutions .
Ezekwesili emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring that public institutions are not used for personal gain, stating, “Our National Assembly… belongs to the Nigerian people and not to politicians of any stripe or status” .
As the controversy continues, there is growing pressure on the Senate to conduct a fair and transparent investigation into the allegations and to uphold the rights and representation of all elected officials.
(Vanguard)
SEXUAL HARASSMENT: ‘Step Aside, Let Justice Speak…, Oby Slams Akpabio
Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili has strongly criticized the Nigerian Senate’s handling of sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili condemned the Senate’s decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, describing it as a “vicious abuse of power” and a “desecration of our public institution”.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he made inappropriate remarks and advances towards her. In response, the Senate’s Ethics Committee dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, citing that she had personally signed it instead of having another senator endorse it, and that the matter was sub judice due to ongoing court proceedings.
Ezekwesili has called for Akpabio to step aside temporarily to allow for an independent investigation into the allegations. She suggested that Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin should oversee a session to reverse Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should conduct the investigation, as sexual harassment falls under its purview .
The situation has sparked widespread public outcry, with women’s rights groups organizing protests under the banner “We are all Natasha” to demand accountability and transparency in addressing sexual harassment claims within Nigeria’s political institutions .
Ezekwesili emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring that public institutions are not used for personal gain, stating, “Our National Assembly… belongs to the Nigerian people and not to politicians of any stripe or status” .
As the controversy continues, there is growing pressure on the Senate to conduct a fair and transparent investigation into the allegations and to uphold the rights and representation of all elected officials.
(Vanguard)
LEAVE A REPLY
Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili has strongly criticized the Nigerian Senate’s handling of sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili condemned the Senate’s decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, describing it as a “vicious abuse of power” and a “desecration of our public institution”.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he made inappropriate remarks and advances towards her. In response, the Senate’s Ethics Committee dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, citing that she had personally signed it instead of having another senator endorse it, and that the matter was sub judice due to ongoing court proceedings.
Ezekwesili has called for Akpabio to step aside temporarily to allow for an independent investigation into the allegations. She suggested that Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin should oversee a session to reverse Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should conduct the investigation, as sexual harassment falls under its purview .
The situation has sparked widespread public outcry, with women’s rights groups organizing protests under the banner “We are all Natasha” to demand accountability and transparency in addressing sexual harassment claims within Nigeria’s political institutions .
Ezekwesili emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring that public institutions are not used for personal gain, stating, “Our National Assembly… belongs to the Nigerian people and not to politicians of any stripe or status” .
As the controversy continues, there is growing pressure on the Senate to conduct a fair and transparent investigation into the allegations and to uphold the rights and representation of all elected officials.
(Vanguard)
LEAVE A REPLY
Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili has strongly criticized the Nigerian Senate’s handling of sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ezekwesili condemned the Senate’s decision to suspend Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, describing it as a “vicious abuse of power” and a “desecration of our public institution”.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he made inappropriate remarks and advances towards her. In response, the Senate’s Ethics Committee dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, citing that she had personally signed it instead of having another senator endorse it, and that the matter was sub judice due to ongoing court proceedings.
Ezekwesili has called for Akpabio to step aside temporarily to allow for an independent investigation into the allegations. She suggested that Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin should oversee a session to reverse Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension and that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should conduct the investigation, as sexual harassment falls under its purview .
The situation has sparked widespread public outcry, with women’s rights groups organizing protests under the banner “We are all Natasha” to demand accountability and transparency in addressing sexual harassment claims within Nigeria’s political institutions .
Ezekwesili emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring that public institutions are not used for personal gain, stating, “Our National Assembly… belongs to the Nigerian people and not to politicians of any stripe or status” .
As the controversy continues, there is growing pressure on the Senate to conduct a fair and transparent investigation into the allegations and to uphold the rights and representation of all elected officials.
(Vanguard)