SEE THE TRANSLATION BELOW:
IN THE OFFICE OF THE NOTARY PUBLIC OF NIGERIA
ABUJA, NIGERIA.
IN THE MATTER OF A PETITION AGAINST SENATOR GODSWILL AKPABIO FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT, ABUSE OF OFFICE, AND OBSTRUCTION OF LEGISLATIVE DUTIES BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ETHICS, PRIVILEGES & PUBLIC PETITIONS.
VERIFYING AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF THE PETITION
I, SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN, Female, Adult, Christian, Nigerian Citizen, of No. 3 Dala Hills Maitama Abuja, Nigeria, do hereby make oath and solemnly depose as follows:
That I am a duly elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
That I am the Complainant in the afore-referenced petition and by virtue of my position, I am conversant with the facts deposed to in this affidavit.
That I make this affidavit in good faith and in support of the Petition presented by my constituent Mr. SUBERU AZAMART YAKUBU on my behalf following the Senate’s rejection of my petition against Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate of Nigeria, for acts of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and obstruction of legislative duties.
PARTICULARS SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
That on or about the 8th day of December 2023, in company of my Husband I visited the Country home of Senator Godswill Akpabio in Akwa Ibom State.
That during this visit, Senator Akpabio made unsolicited and inappropriate sexual advances towards me, while attempting to show me around his house.
That at this point my Husband was around the corner on his phone, when Senator Akpabio was suggesting bringing me to the House subsequently to spend quality moment.
He also suggested that part of the house can be converted to a night club setting to have a party.
These comments I believe were inappropriate and an attempt to lure me into an unethical relationship especially owing to the relationship between my husband and himself.
That when I rejected his advances, he began a systematic campaign of obstruction and intimidation against me within the Senate.
That Senator Akpabio deliberately refused to recognize my motions on the floor of the Senate, including an important motion regarding the revitalization of Ajaokuta Steel Company, which is a matter of national economic significance.
That this motion was listed on the order paper more than 5 (Five) different occasions. In some occasions, when the motion was listed on the order paper, the Senate President declined to take same for reasons which I believe were connected to my outright refusal to accede to his advances.
That owing to the apparent refusal by the President, some concerned colleagues of mine in the Senate advised that I approach the Senate President privately.
That I hesitated initially owing to my previous encounter with the President of the Senate; Senator Godswill Akpabio, but summoned the courage to approach the Senate President in his office.
The Senate President instead of attending to my complaint on my refusal to attend to my motion, Senate Akpabio reiterated his advances, in his words by my best recollection thus:
“Natasha, I am the Chief Presiding Officer of the Senate and you can enjoy a whole lot from me if you take care of me and make me happy”
That I verily believe that the obstruction of my legislative motions was not unconnected to my refusal to accede to the advances made by the Senate President.
That I know for a fact that this is not the first time Senator Akpabio has been accused of such misconduct against women, as similar allegations have been made against him in the past, including but not limited to Dr. Joi Nunieh, former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who publicly accused Senator Akpabio of sexual harassment and claimed that she had to physically defend herself from his advances.
ABUSE OF OFFICE AND MALICE.
In addition to Paragraph 1-16 above, I also state that the Respondent equally acted in Abuse of his office out of malice which is not unconnected to the facts stated above in support of sexual harassment.
That on the 30th day of January 2025, an executive order was given by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the commissioning and establishment of Five (5) mini-liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.
That as a Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District and Chair-person, Senate Committee on Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, there was an erroneous assumption that this project was under my control and same influenced by position.
That based on this erroneous presumption, Senator Godswill Akpabio abruptly without prior notice removed me as Chair-person, Senate Committee on Nigeria Local Development Content on 4th February 2025 to limit my involvement in the LNG Project.
Consequently, he championed media propaganda and publications through Senior Legislative Aides advocating that the project be relocated to the Niger Delta region.
That I also reasonably believe that the summary decision by the Senate President to allow me respond to a serious allegation of flagrant disregard against my person was equally malicious, in spite of the privilege raised by me.
I reserve my right to provide further particulars and evidence to support my allegations contained in the petition.
That I depose to this affidavit in good faith, believing the content to be true and correct and in accordance with the Oaths Act.
[Signature]
DEPONENT
Sworn before me: Notary Public
Of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Abuja, Fct.
This 6th day of MARCH 2025
BEFORE ME
[Notary Seal]
NOTARY PUBLIC OF NIGERIA
FESTUS AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN & CO.
LEGAL PRACTITIONERS
SUITE 31, TRINITY HOUSE, MABUSHI, FCT
ABUJA, NIGERIA
TEL: 0807 334 2359
6/3/2025
