Hundreds of protesters supporting the Lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, have gathered outside the National Assembly in Abuja, demonstrating against Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s sexual harassment allegation.
The demonstrators, comprising mainly women and men from Kogi, led by a legal representative of Akpoti-Uduaghan, called on the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions to withdraw from the investigation.
This follows a heated dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and President Akpabio over the reassignment of her seat in the Senate chamber.
During the demonstration which took place on Wednesday, the agitated protesters also demanded Akpabio’s resignation to allow for an unbiased investigation into the allegations.
Speaking during the march, which began around 8:00 AM, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Victor Giwa, stated that the chairman and members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, appointed by the Senate President, cannot be expected to remain impartial.
Giwa further claimed that his law firm has obtained a court injunction to halt the committee’s proceedings.
While the protest was ongoing, it was learnt that operatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) quickly intervened, dispersing the crowd to deter them from gaining access to the National Assembly Complex.
As gathered, the protesters who had converged at the Assembly gate, were dispersed by operatives with tear gas to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Earlier, a Federal High Court in Abuja signed an order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from conducting a disciplinary proceeding against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The presiding judge, Obiora Egwuatu, gave the order on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by the Kohi lawmaker’s counsel.
“An order of this Honourbale Court is made granting leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to serve the 2nd – 4th Defendants/Respondents with the Originating Summons and all other accompanying processes in this Suit by substituted means, to wit: by serving same through the 1st Defendant (Clerk of the National Assembly) or pasting same on the premises of the National Assembly and publishing same in two national dailies”
“2. An Order of Interim Injuction of this Honourable Court is made restraining the 2nd Defendant/Defendant’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, headed by the 4th Defendant, from proceeding with the purported investigation against the Plaintiff/Applicant for alleged misconduct, sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary of the 2nd Defendant on the 20th day of February 2025, pursuant to the referral by the 2nd Defendant on the 25th of February 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.
“3. An order of this Honourable Court is made directing the 1st – 4th Defendants to show cause within 72 hours upon the service of this order on them, why an order of interlocutory injunction should not be granted against them, restraining them from proceeding with the purported investigation against the Plaintiff for alleged misconduct without affording her privileges as stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.”
