The committee, led by its Chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen, has recommended that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan be suspended for six months, with the suspension set to take effect on March 6, 2025.
As part of the recommendation, it was suggested that her office be locked, and she be barred from accessing the National Assembly premises during her suspension. Additionally, her salary and that of her legislative aides will be withheld.
The Senate is expected to vote on the recommendation, and if it is upheld, Senator Natasha will lose all legislative privileges for the duration of her suspension. During this period, she will also be prohibited from representing Nigeria in any official capacity as a senator of the Federal Republic. The committee has further recommended that Senator Natasha submit a written apology, which would be considered in reviewing her suspension.
In the plenary session on Thursday, Senator Natasha was asked if the matter was already under judicial review. She confirmed that it was not.
This comes after Senator Natasha presented a petition to the Senate, alleging sexual harassment by Akpabio. This time, the petition was signed by her constituents. The committee has been given four weeks to investigate the matter and report its findings to the Senate. Following proper protocol, the petition was formally submitted and referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct for investigation.