The sexual harassment case involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been declared closed by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
The committee chairman, Neda Imaseun, announced this decision during a session held on Tuesday.
His remarks came after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Abiola Akiode, accused him of being partial in the way he handled the issue.
The matter, which drew widespread attention within the National Assembly, has now reached a standstill, with no further action to be taken by the Senate.
This follows a petition initially submitted by Akpoti-Uduaghan, which reportedly violated procedural rules.
Imaseun pointed out that, according to Senate guidelines, a petitioner cannot personally sign their own submission, and he noted that the document lacked a proper address.
Despite these irregularities, the petition had previously been allowed.
The tension rose after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer suggested that Imaseun step down from his role to ensure impartiality.
In response, Imaseun defended his position by stating that the entire Senate had witnessed the events and would therefore also be considered involved if bias were claimed.
Imaseun further clarified that since the matter is now being addressed in court, the Senate would no longer intervene, in line with its own rules, which bar deliberation on issues under legal consideration.
Citing the Senate’s rule book, Imaseun explained that discussing a case already before a court would be against procedural guidelines.
With both parties presenting their concerns and the legal process underway, the committee decided to leave the matter in the hands of the judiciary.
The chairman declared that the Senate would cease further discussion and adjourned the case indefinitely, effectively marking its closure within the legislative chamber.
