Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of retaliating against her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances.
Her claims come days after a disagreement over seating arrangements in the Senate chambers.
Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio ignored her contributions during plenary because she refused his directive to speak from an assigned seat, which she deemed unfavorably positioned.
Subsequently, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions was tasked with reviewing her conduct for possible disciplinary action.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a defamation suit against Akpabio, demanding N100.3 billion in damages.
Speaking on Arise TV on Friday, the Kogi lawmaker asserted that her issues with Akpabio predate the plenary incident.
She said her husband could arrest to Akpabio’s behaviour around her, adding that she could prove it with printed screenshots of conversations between them “because he was always calling me on WhatsApp.”
She said: “My issue with Akpabio started on 8th of December, 2023 when myself and my husband visited Akwa Ibom for Senator Akpabio’s birthday.
“Akpabio was showing me around his house and was holding my hands with my husband following behind us when he said, he wants me to come and be spending special moments in his house. My husband heard him and later told me not to travel abroad alone or be with the Senate President alone.
“In February, I wanted to move a motion for the investigation on the ills of the corrupt practice in an Ajaokuta steel company. I listed that motion five times. It was the sixth time that it was listed on the order paper that was approved. Many senators can testify to that.
“Before the motion made the order paper, I went to the Senate President in his office, and I said, Senate President,’ you know how important this Ajaokuta Steel Company is to me, you know how important it is to my people and to Nigerians.
“I’ve noticed that you have stepped down this motion’. As a matter of fact, a number of senators told me to see him and plead with him so that he would take it. I was like, ‘sir, please, why can’t you take this motion? It’s very important’ Then, it was listed the third time and stepped down.
“He then said, ‘Natasha, I’m the Chief presiding officer of the Senate, you can enjoy a whole lot if you take care of me. Make me happy’. At that point, I said, ‘Sir, I’ll pretend that I didn’t hear this’. He said, ‘well, the ball is in your court’. I left his office
“My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”