Natasha’s sexual harassment case “closed” at senate – Ethics committee chair

Neda Imaseun, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, has announced that the sexual harassment case brought forward by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is “closed” in the Senate.

Imaseun made the statement on Tuesday in response to accusations from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Abiola Akiode, who had alleged bias in the handling of the case.

Akiode had called for Imaseun to step down as committee chairman to ensure fairness and impartiality in the proceedings.

Akiode emphasised: “Our intention is that, if we are to proceed, we request that the chairman steps down from the case to allow for fairness and justice in line with the Constitution of the country.”

In his response, Imaseun clarified that since the matter is already under legal proceedings in court, the Senate committee would refrain from further involvement, stating that the case is effectively closed at the Senate level.

Imaseun said: “Let me tell you, the first petition that came before us was signed by Distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Contrary to our rules, you cannot sign your own petition. The petition that came before us did not even have an address. Contrary to our rules, that petition shouldn’t have been entertained.

“In any case, for the position that I can see you are taking, it means the whole senate is biased. Because the whole senate witnessed what happened. So, I don’t know what ad-hoc committee you are going to constitute that is not aware of what has been going on.

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“Learned respondent (Akpabio’s counsel) has just told us that this matter is before the law court, and I will address that by our rule book. I will address that by our rule book, order 40 (7), which says ‘senate should not receive or deliberate on any matter to which actions are pending in any court of law’. This is our rule book.

“Therefore, the petitioner said he would not speak to his petition because the committee is biased, the respondent has just told us that this case is before a competent court of law, therefore, this committee will allow the court of law, that will not be biased, to handle this matter.

“Therefore, this matter is closed here at the senate and it is adjourned sine die.”