The Senate has stand down a petition brought before it by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate in a statement said the petition has several procedural breaches, which betrayed again her concerning ignorance of Senate rules and standing orders.
It said: “The Standing Orders in breach in her petition included Order 40 (4) No Senator may present a petition signed by himself,” Order 40 (7) “petitions must follow Senate Rules.
“In addition it was observed that the allegation has led to ancillary legal cases and the Senate Order 40 (7) forbids the Senate to entertain petitions which are before competent courts of law.
“It was observed that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan contrary to Oder 55 (1); that at the entry of the Presiding Officer all Senators and Oficials and Members of the press and those in the gallery should stand until he takes his seat, refused to stand.
“And on several occasions she spoke without being recognized and kept shouting Order Ten.”
Speaking earlier, Senator Akpabio stated categorically that he never sexually harassed or made advances to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, adding that he is a father of four girls and he has robust respect for women.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi, representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, raised a point of order that his former governor and former minister, Chief Kayode Fayemi, was petitioning Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over defamatory statements that he sold Ajaokuta Steel Mill and that he sexually harassed her. He said the petition was on its way to the chambers.
Deliberations in the chambers were, however, without any other incident as the Senate went into plenary and entertained the matters listed in its schedule for the day.
