Chairman, senate committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, senator Neda Imasuen has stated that the suspension of senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has nothing to do with the allegation of sexual harassment she brought against the Senate president, Senator Godswill Akapbio.
Senator Imasuen, who represents the people of Edo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, made the clarification in Benin City, Edo State, while speaking with journalists on the matter.
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| Senator Neda Imasuen |
The senator was originally in Benin City to attend a training workshop he put together to empower members of his district on shoemaking and leather bags.
Speaking on the Natasha/ Akpabio saga which has dominated the media space, the lawmaker pointed out that the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions committee is a standing committee and not an ad hoc committee, noting that the committee has handled several petitions ranging from oil spillage, official abuse, rustication from higher institutions, and so on, without being accused by anyone of being biased until the recent allegation of sexual harassment.
"I must also put on record that the issue that was before my committee was the issue of misconduct on the floor of the senate, it has nothing absolutely to do with sexual harassment. Sexual harassment came, after the first petition, that was brought before my committee. And we have standing rules. And those standing rules must be followed. And we followed that standing rules to the letter. It is not a one man standing committee, it's a committee of about 28, 29 members. I am only the chairman of that committee. I have nothing personal against anybody. And I have attended to varieties of matter in that committee, since inception," he stated.
While stating that the issue of sexual harassment was brought later to the senate committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, senator Imasuen maintained that it was wrong for Natasha to have signed her petition by herself according to senate rules.
He observed that though the house had still wanted to hear the petition, it could no longer proceed with the matter as the case has been taken to a law court.
He emphasized that for anyone to think that he or the committee was targeting anyone amounts to either not having a clear understanding of the issue at hand or a deliberate attempt to be mischievous.
On the plan to recall him from the National Assembly, Senator Imasuen stated that he is aware that those making the move are being sponsored from Kogi State.
While noting that there is no political link between the people of Edo State and that of Kogi State, he expressed the belief that such a plan cannot work and advised those plotting such to desist from it.
“Those seeking my recall are hungry people who were taken to Kogi State to be briefed on what to do and were paid and are working for their money.
“And there is an event that is taking place now that is necessitating this press conference. I have been advised from the beginning not to say anything, and I have strictly adhered to that advice, but for what is happening in Benin, it’s something that I find very reprehensible, and I don’t really understand it, but for what I understand, they have been paid. As a matter of fact, some of them have been taken to Kogi, to be briefed on what to do. And they were giving money for that purpose," Imasuen stated.
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