Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of making inappropriate comments about her waist movements. She made this revelation in an exclusive interview with BBC, where she also claimed that Akpabio would frequently squeeze her hands in a suggestive manner. “We women understand what it means when a man squeezes our hands in that way,” she remarked. During the interview, Akpoti recounted an incident where she forgot to wear her wedding ring to work. She stated that Akpabio, in the presence of five other senators, commented, “Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring… is this an invitation to treat?” She further alleged that he once said, “Natasha, your husband must be really enjoying. It looks like you’d be able to make good movements with your waist.” Akpoti expressed disappointment that such remarks were met with laughter from fellow senators. She emphasized that many people fail to understand the burden of enduring such comments and lamented that discussions on such issues remain limited in Nigeria and Africa. The controversy surrounding Akpoti intensified after she was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for what was described as “gross misconduct and unruly behavior.” Her suspension followed a heated disagreement with Akpabio over seating arrangements. Notably, this action came just a day after she had submitted a petition accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment. However, the Senate maintained that her suspension was unrelated to the petition. For further reading on workplace harassment and gender discrimination, visit BBC News. READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Channel
Ekaette Akpabio, the wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has filed multiple legal cases against Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of defamation and seeking N250 billion in damages. The lawsuits stem from comments Akpoti-Uduaghan made during an interview on Arise TV, where she claimed that Senate President Akpabio had made inappropriate advances toward her, both in his office and at his residence in Akwa Ibom. In response, Ekaette Akpabio strongly denied these allegations, emphasizing that her husband is a man of integrity. She dismissed the claims as “false and baseless.” Taking legal action, Ekaette filed a fundamental rights lawsuit at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. She argued that the senator’s statements subjected her and her children to “emotional and psychological distress.” As part of the lawsuit, she has requested a restraining order to prevent Akpoti-Uduaghan from making any further “malicious and defamatory” remarks that violate her fundamental rights. The legal claim also includes a demand for N250 billion in exemplary, punitive, aggravated, and general damages. Ekaette Akpabio insists that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statements have significantly tarnished her reputation and that of her family, causing public disgrace and personal harm. Additionally, she has petitioned the court to compel the senator to issue a public apology, which should be published in two widely read national newspapers. The lawsuit further requests an additional N1 billion in punitive and exemplary damages to compensate for the harm caused by the defamatory claims. She has also called for a perpetual injunction to permanently restrain Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further damaging statements against her family. As of now, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has not publicly addressed the accusations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan. Learn more about defamation laws in Nigeria READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Channel
