Senate Deputy Chief Whip Calls Natasha’s Allegations Against Akpabio ‘Diversionary Tactic’

Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has accused Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of using diversionary tactic to prevent her from facing disciplinary action while describing the Kogi senator’s sexual harassment allegations against the Senate President, Barrister Godswill Akpabio as politically motivated.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Nwebonyi ,who gave his take on the issue in a statement he issued on Sunday, said Natasha had only raised the allegations to take people’s attention away from an ongoing disciplinary process against her.

He also clarified that what has happened in respect of Natasha and Akpabio is different from what happened under Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki as Senate President.

 ‘Saraki’s case was about official duties as Senate President—an accusation concerning the importation of an official vehicle. It was a procedural issue that was swiftly resolved through the Senate Ethics Committee.

In contrast, the allegations against Akpabio are personal, unverified, and only emerged when the accuser faced disciplinary action’  Nwebonyi said.

The senator also accused Natasha of having a history of making ‘reckless and false allegations’ against prominent people and he listed those who had been made to face such an unpleasant experience to include Reno Omokri, Dino Melaye, and Yahaya Bello.

 ‘If she truly believes she is being victimized because of an alleged sexual harassment incident, the proper forum to raise such a grievance would have been the Senate itself, not a television interview. The Senate is moved by reason and laws, not sentiments and drama’ he said.

He also noted that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was appointed as Chairman of Senate Committee on Local Content in November 2023, before the alleged incident in Ikot Ekpene.

‘If she had truly been a victim, why would the Senate leadership, under the same Akpabio, assign her such a critical leadership role?’ he asked.

 ‘The correct course of action is clear: she should first answer to the Senate Ethics Committee for her misconduct. If she believes she has a valid sexual harassment claim, she should file a case in the appropriate legal forum, not use the Senate and the media as a shield against accountability

The Senate and Nigerians should not fall for this diversionary tactic. The Senate must stay focused, maintain order, and refuse to be blackmailed into legitimizing what is clearly an opportunistic falsehood’ the Deputy Chief Whip added-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you