Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu has criticised the use of taxpayers’ money to fund what she described as a personal dispute between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Yesufu said she attended court sessions on Monday and Tuesday and saw no matter related to sexual harassment.
“I just listened to the issue of sexual harassment in court. I am not aware of that. The question we should all be asking is why taxpayers’ money is being wasted on an issue that involves two senators,” she said.
Yesufu argued that if the Senate President felt personally defamed, he should pursue a private legal action rather than involve the Senate and federal resources.
“The Senate President should not drag the Senate into a personal dispute. If he has any issues with her, he should handle them privately. Why are we bringing the whole institution and the entire state into it?” she asked.
Commenting on related proceedings, Yesufu noted that a court had declared the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan unconstitutional.
“The judiciary needs to really sit down and reclaim its independence to say, ‘Get back into your office,’” she stated.
The activist urged Nigerians to hold all 109 senators accountable for how legislative time and public funds are spent, especially when personal political rivalries are turned into matters of state.
Her remarks followed Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return to the National Assembly after a six-month suspension and the unsealing of her office on Tuesday.
The senator arrived at her office, located at Suite 2.05 in the Senate wing, accompanied by her supporters just hours after the sergeant-at-arms unlocked it.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate in March for allegedly violating its standing rules.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, she described her suspension as illegal.
“For me, I am glad to be here. Even though we were illegally suspended, I have never hesitated in carrying out my duties as the senator representing Kogi Central to the best of my ability,” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator said during her first day back in the office after six months.