A former lawmaker, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to step aside for an impartial investigation into sexual harassment allegations made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
It was noted that Senator Tofowomo, who represented Ondo South at the ninth National Assembly, told newsmen on Friday in Okitipupa that Senator Akpabio “cannot preside over his own case”.
The Senate had suspended SenatorAkpoti-Uduaghan for six months with effect from March 6, following a standoff with the Senate President over seating arrangements during plenary.
According to reports, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, had accused Senator Akpabio of sexual harassment and petitioned the Senate, which rejected her claims.
Senator Tofowomo, a Peoples Democratic Party PDP chieftain, who said his view was not based on political affiliation, noted that “the National Assembly should be a place where laws are obeyed and not flouted.”
According to him, the National Assembly makes laws and implements such laws on Nigerian citizens and it must be binded by the laws.
The allegation of sexual harassment is a serious one, either true or false, it behoves on Senator Akpabio to step aside for impartial investigation and let his deputy preside over legislative matters pending the decision of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken the case to the United Nations, and we should not make ourselves and our country a laughing stock among comity of nations over this matter, but do the right thing as distinguished members.
Suspending Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was wrong in its entirety; if the Senate said she violated its standing rules, is there anywhere she have been warned? No, so why the sudden suspension? Women are supposed to be treated with a lot of courtesy and respect. Yes, there may be a serious allegation, but the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions should investigate the matter in order to exonerate Senator Akpabio, Senator Tofowomo said
