Bashir El-Rufai, son of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has slammed the Senate for suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months.
It was reported on Thursday that the Nigerian Senate suspended Senator Natasha for six months over an allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio.
The suspension followed a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, submitted to the Committee of the Whole, citing several infractions of the Rules and Orders of the Senate.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Imasuen Neda Bernards, representing Edo South Senatorial District, submitted that the committee carried out an investigation on Wednesday, during which the female lawmaker was afforded the opportunity to state her own side of the story.
Detailing the proceedings of the committee’s investigative hearing, he said testimonies were taken to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the allegation raised by the respondent, in line with the mandate of the committee.
Senator Neda recalled that on Wednesday last week, the respondent caused “chaos and a rowdy session” when she refused a seat assigned to her and engaged in a shouting match, in discordance with the relevant provisions of the Rules and Orders of the Senate.
Writing via his X handle, Bashir said, “It is important to note that the Nigerian Senate does not have the power nor the legitimacy to suspend a sitting Senator. It is illegal.
“This is a standalone tweet.”
Also reacting to the suspension, a popular media personality, Oseni Rufai, said, “The Senate is a tainted institution. It lacks transparency.”
The suspension comes after the female lawmaker submitted a petition on Wednesday where she officially accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.
She also accused Akpabio of abuse of office and malicious obstruction of her legislative functions.
Akpabio has denied allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him, insisting he does not harass women.
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions had, before today, said that the ‘sexual harassment’ petition by Senator Natasha against Akpabio was “dead on arrival.”
