The Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has dismissed the statements that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was linked to his accusations of sexual harassment against the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
In an official statement The issued on Saturday, Senator Bamidele described reports that associated Natasha's suspension with accusations of sexual harassment as “false, misleading and a calculated attempt to distort the facts.”
He insisted that the six -month suspension was only due to serious misconduct and the violations of the legislative decorum.
The Senate leader, in the statement, described several violations that led to his suspension, including the challenge of seat agreements during the plenary on February 25, speaking without recognition, participating in a disruptive behavior, making abusive comments against the leadership of the Senate and refusing to comply with the calls of the Ethics Committee.
Regarding the controversy surrounding a request that Senator Natasha presented, Bamidele clarified that it was not dismissed based on its content, but because it did not meet the procedure requirements.
However, he condemned what he described as a coordinated campaign of erroneous information of some media, urging journalists to correct what he called false narratives.
The statement completely says: “The authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly refutes the deliberate wrong information and the false narratives that circulate through certain media organizations with respect to the six -month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan.
“That the Senator Uduaghan was suspended only for his persistent acts of misconduct, shameless contempt for the provisions of the permanent orders of the 2023 Senate (amended) and gross indiscipline, nothing more, nothing less.
“He has called for the attention of the Senate that some media reports try to falsely suggest that the suspension of Senator Uduaghan was due to accusations of sexual harassment. This is completely false, misleading and a calculated attempt to distort the facts. If Senator Uduaghan had strictly followed our guiding principles, the Senate would have treated his request based on in line with his practice. But she never obeyed the established practices of the institution where she was serving.
“Facts of the suspension: the Senator Uduaghan was a decision of the Committee of the entire Senate, after the presentation of a report by the President of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges. The report found its guilt of violating sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the rules of the Senate and recommended its immediate suspension. “
“Disciplinary action was an answer to its repeated violations of the legislative decorum, which includes:
“1. Refusing to sit in your seat assigned during the plenary on February 25, 2025, despite the multiple supplications of the minority leader and other classification senators, an act of open challenge and disorderly behavior.
“2. Speaking without being recognized by the President, in a clear violation of parliamentary practices and procedures on February 25, 2025.
“3. Participate in rebel and disruptive behavior, obstructing the orderly behavior of the Senate procedures.
“4. Making abusive and disrespectful comments against Senate leadership.
“5. Challenge and refuse to comply with the summons of the Senate Ethics and Privileges forced to investigate cases of misconduct.
“These actions represented a direct challenge to the authority of the Senate and a violation of the permanent orders of the 2023 Senate (according to amended) that govern the businesses of the Senate and the conduct of its members. The disciplinary measure was, therefore, necessary and justified to restore order and maintain the integrity of the Senate as the most important democratic institution in the country.
“On the request and accusations: unlike the false statements that are circulated, Senator Uduaghan was not suspended for doing any sexual harassment or by presenting a request.
“His request was legitimately ruled out because he did not meet the clear and established procedure requirements to present requests to the Senate. Senate rules apply to all members without exception, and no request can be considered regardless of their subject if it does not follow the due process.
“To suggest that his suspension was linked to his request is not only a distortion of facts but an intentional and malicious attempt to deceive the public.
Also read: Natasha's suspension was established, without retreat – Akpabio
“Condition of deceptive media reports: the Senate strongly condemns the irresponsible and unusual reports of some media organizations that have deliberately twist the facts to adapt to a false narrative.
“This coordinated erroneous information campaign is nothing more than an attempt to politicize a disciplinary action that was strictly based on clear violations of the permanent orders of Senate 2023 (as amended). It is reckless, misleading and a bad service for the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which deserve truthful and objective reports.
“Therefore, we urge all foreign correspondents and the media responsible to correct these misrepresentations and avoid propagations of falsehoods that undermine the integrity of the legislative process of Nigeria.
“The Senate is still committed to defending discipline, order and parliamentary ethics. No senator, regardless of status, gender or political affiliation, is above the rules of the Senate. The Senator Uduaghan was the direct consequence of his actions and nothing else.
“We urge the public and the media to ignore the false reports that suggest otherwise and always look for the truth before spreading politically motivated narrations.”
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