Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uguaghan, representing Kogi Central, has leveled allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In an interview with Arise Television on Friday, Akpoti-Uguaghan claimed that Akpabio retaliated against her for rejecting his advances by blocking her motions from being heard on the Senate floor.
According to Akpoti-Uguaghan, her refusal of Akpabio’s alleged advances has led to persistent harassment and malignment, which she said occurred both in Akpabio’s Uyo home and office.
In response, Akpabio’s media consultant, Kenny Okulogbo, has denied the allegations on behalf of the Senate President.
She said, “My issue with Akpabio started on the 8th of December, 2023. We went to his house at Ikot-Ekpene, and he held my hand and said he wanted to show me around his house. Just the three of us, my husband and him. I noticed he hastened his pace while still holding my hand, and he got to this particular sitting room.
“He asked ‘do you like my house?’ and I replied ‘of course yes,’ and he said, ‘now that you are a Senator, you are going to create time for us to spend quality time here and you will enjoy it.’
“Later, on the floor of the Senate, I was also told by Senators to approach him to move a motion concerning the Ajaokuta Steel, and he then told me that ‘Natasha, I am the Chief Presiding officer of the Senate. You can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me and make me happy.’ At that point, I told him that I would pretend I didn’t hear that.
“My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”
Reacting to the allegation in an interview with PUNCH Online correspondent, the media consultant to the Senate President, Kenny Okulogbo, described the allegations as tissues of lies.
Okulogbo stated that the Kogi lawmaker is angry because she was removed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content.
He said, “All that Senator Natasha said are all tissues of lies. She is just angry because she was removed as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content.
“The Senate President will respond. We will make an official statement soon.”
