A civil society organization, CSO, Citizens Network For Peace and Development in Nigeria, CNPD, has urged the Senate not to be distracted by the sexual harassment allegation levelled against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday by its Executive Director, Francis Okereke Wainwei, CNPD charged the Senate to remain focused on discharging its constitutional responsibilities to the Nigerian people.

The CSO noted that the call was necessitated by indications that the primary aim of the sexual harassment allegation might be to escape punishment from the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which is investigating Natasha for breach of the rules of the Senate.

“It seems to be a desperate attempt to divert attention from her disciplinary proceedings. She is trying to manipulate the Senate and the Nigerian people to avoid punishment for her unruly behaviour.

“It is our highly considered opinion that the sexual harassment allegation is a grand ploy by Sen. Natasha to escape punishment from the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, for her flagrant breach of the Senate rules. She wants to use the sexual harassment allegation to distract the Senate committee and attract sympathy from both the Senate and the Nigerian people as a victim of illegitimate use of power by the Senate President,” the CSO said.

Further questioning the sincerity of Natasha’s actions, the group raised some questions on the issue.

“Why has she not used the due process in the Senate to pursue redress for the sexual harassment that supposedly took place over a year ago? Why did she not confide in the other female senators and seek their support in fighting against her harassment? Why is the sexual harassment allegation coming up now that she has been summoned for disciplinary action by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges?”

The CSO further observed that a critical analysis shows contradictions in claims made during Natasha’s Arise TV interview and the statement released by her husband,High Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan.

“The claim by her husband that his wife doesn’t hide anything from him contradicts her claim of not telling her husband about the sexual harassment till now,” the CSO noted.

CNPD, in the same vein, pointed out that Natasha had in the past made similar unsubstantiated allegations of sexual harassment against prominent persons such as Reno Omokri, Dino Melanie and Yahaya Bello.

“She made those allegations without evidence and couldn’t substantiate them but went ahead to give them serious media hype. It has become a notorious fact that anytime she needs public sympathy to achieve a desired goal, she brings up sexual harassment allegations because many people buy into stories of sexual harassment without critically analyzing the credibility and veracity of such claims.

“Sen. Natasha’s claim of being victimized for sexual reasons doesn’t hold any water and hasn’t been backed up with any concrete evidence. For instance, Sen. Natasha claimed that the monthly imprest fund meant for the daily running of the Senate Committee on Local Content was kept in the bank throughout her tenure as chairperson, which is an allusion to the fact that the Committee didn’t do any work during her time as Chairperson. Such a claim is an obvious admission that she was not productive and effective in running the affairs of the committee and therefore,deserved her removal.

“It is therefore, malicious for her to claim that she was removed as the committee chairperson because of her refusal to agree to the alleged sexual advances of the Senate President. Also the conventional change of seats in the Senate that affected other senators too, can’t be rightly seen as an action targeted at her because of her refusal to acquiesce to the alleged sexual advances of the Senate President.

“We are therefore calling on the Senate to religiously adhere to the strict enforcement of it’s rules and extant parliamentary procedures. This is to ensure the sustenance of its parliamentary integrity and due process without being swayed negatively by any extraneous distraction or sentiment.”

CNPD equally faulted former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for suggesting that Akpabio should step aside as Senate President for the deputy to preside over the investigation of the sexual harassment allegation. The CSO said Saraki’s suggestion was not in line with the rules of the Senate and parliamentary procedures.

Accusing Saraki of playing politics, the group said, “Mr Saraki is aware that before any allegation or any matter can be investigated by the Senate, it must be raised in the Senate or formally presented before it. This matter was never raised or presented in the Senate, so how can the Senate investigate it?”

Natasha: Don’t be distracted by sexual harassment allegation – CNPD tells Senate to enforce rules