By Kolawole Ojebisi
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has responded to former Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s call for a thorough investigation into the allegations against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Eseme Eyiboh, Special Adviser on Media to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who apparently stated why the Red Chamber cannot investigate the allegations levelled against his principal by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Eyiboh spoke during an interview on TVC News on Sunday. He said Akpoti-Uduaghan, Kogi central senator, has not submitted any petition about the alleged sexual harassment to the national assembly.
He added that the Kogi senator did not mention sexual harassment in her suit filed against the senate president
Recall that on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the senate president of making sexual advances towards her in his office and residence in Akwa Ibom.
The allegation spurred reactions from prominent Nigerians, including a lawsuit against the Kogi senator by Ekaette Akpabio, the senate president’s wife.
Others have called for an investigation into the claims made by the Kogi senator.
Why weighing in into the case, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had advised the leadership of the 10th senate to follow the precedent laid when he was accused of an importing official car without paying customs duty at the 8th senate.
Asked during the interview if Saraki’s suggestion would be followed, Eyiboh said the ex-senate president’s suggestion has no place in the current conversation.
The media aide said what happened at the 8th senate when Saraki was accused of importing a car without paying customs duty is different from the sexual allegations levelled against Akpabio.
Akpabio’s aide added that the upper chamber cannot institute a panel to probe the Kogi senator’s allegations because there is no petition to that effect.
“What Bukola Saraki said has no place for contemplation at this level,” he said.
“There is no petition, either to the police, court or senate regarding sexual harassment. It is just somebody exercising the right to public communication, that is freedom of expression.
“She went to a public television platform another person could have gone to Wuse market to lay an allegation. And you are asking the institution to investigate.
“It is a different thing that happened to Senator Saraki during his time on the car issue.
“In this case, there is no petition anywhere. There is no petition on sexual harassment.
“So from where will the senate as an institution going to set up a panel? Who is the complainant? There is no complainant.
“What he (referring to Saraki) is saying has no place in the conversation.”
