Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has made fresh allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following her recent outburst over the controversial reallocation of her Senate seat.
In a 30-minute interview on a sister station, Natasha revealed that the seat dispute was just one of many instances of unfair treatment she has endured in the Senate.
She compared her experience to that of a university student who is repeatedly failed by a lecturer for refusing sexual advances.
According to her, the ordeal began on December 8, 2024, a day before her birthday, when she and her husband visited Akpabio’s residence in Akwa Ibom.
During a private tour of the house, while her husband was on a phone call, Akpabio allegedly held her hand and told her he would “create time for the two of them to spend quality time together.”
Sensing something was wrong, her husband later advised her not to travel alone or visit the Senate President’s house again.
In another incident in February, Natasha sought to move a motion for an investigation into Ajaokuta Steel Company.
Despite being listed five times on the Senate order paper, it was only approved on the sixth attempt.
When she approached Akpabio regarding the delay, he allegedly responded, “You can enjoy a lot if you take care of me… the ball is in your court.”
Natasha stated that she reported the matter to Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Natasha said her husband traveled to London to discuss the issue with Akpabio, who allegedly claimed he was “protecting” her by not allowing the motion to be taken
The senator also claimed that lawmakers who won their seats through court rulings are treated as inferior to those who were sworn in earlier.
She expressed disappointment in the silence of her colleagues, particularly the three female senators, on her ordeal.
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She disclosed that after she filed a defamation suit against Akpabio and his aide, Senator Ireti Kingibe and other female senators discouraged her, with Ireti even calling her husband to urge her to withdraw the case.
Natasha accused Akpabio of making veiled threats against her, particularly after the night club incident on the senate floor
She alleged that at 12:14 AM, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele called her, warning that “if Akpabio goes down, he (Leader ) will also go down.”
Shortly after, Akpabio himself allegedly called, saying that the nightclub incident had disturbed his wife and that he had been advised by a traditional ruler from Agbor to leave Abuja, as he was seen as “the most hated politician.” During the end bad governance protest
She further claimed that Akpabio warned that anyone who dared to confront him would be “taken down.”
Natasha challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate these threats and extract the call records for verification.
On alleged misappropriation of funds for the committee on Local Content, She claimed that upon resuming office, the committee clerk informed her that N950,000 had been allocated as running costs for logistics and refreshments, but she refused to allow the money be shared
since no meetings had taken place.
However, she alleged that the clerk insisted on disbursing the money, as it was the norm.
She further claimed that N5 million and N4.9 million were withdrawn following her removal from the committee
She insisted that Akpabio had acted unlawfully by refusing to let her invoke a procedural order during the seat dispute, arguing that no rule dictates a specific seat from which a senator must speak.
( Editor : Paul Akhagbemhe )
