Oby Ezekwesili Pens Letter to Senate to Address Injustice Against Senator Natasha 

Oby Ezekwesili has written an urgent letter to the Nigerian Senate, calling for corrective action against the democratic breaches and injustice inflicted on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

She stated that Nigerian citizens are aware of the unacceptable behaviour and injustice carried out by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Nigerian Senate against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. She then listed a series of demands for the Senate to act upon:

1. The Senate President should step aside, and the Deputy Senator President should immediately convene a session to rescind Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan‘s unconstitutional and illegal suspension. All punitive measures against her should be reversed so she can resume her duties as the duly elected representative of Kogi Central and receive the fair hearing she is entitled to under Senate procedures.
   
2. Since Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has not been sued for any criminal charges but has resubmitted her original petition on the sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Akpabio, the Senate should take the following actions this week:
   
   1. A prompt independent investigation into the resubmitted petition should be conducted. The ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices Commission) should be officially requested to oversee this investigation, as sexual harassment falls under corrupt practices that the ICPC is mandated to investigate and prosecute.
      
   2. The Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee should be reconstituted under a new chairperson and given the mandate to commence a public hearing on the sexual harassment petition against Senate President Akpabio.
      
   3. The committee should receive recommendations from the ICPC investigator, along with written and oral testimonies and evidence from both Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senator Akpabio.
      
3. The Senate in plenary should receive the report, findings, and recommendations of the Ethics Committee, debate them, and refer the matter to the Attorney General as necessary.
   
4. The Senate and House of Representatives should collaborate with women’s groups, the NBA (Nigerian Bar Association), and the police to launch a comprehensive review of laws, regulations, and policies aimed at preventing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). This review should identify existing barriers and gaps and lead to the implementation of an action plan on a fast-track timeline.
   
5. The Senate/National Assembly should restart the process of reconsidering the five gender bills that were previously rejected in the 9th National Assembly.
   
6. The Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with women’s groups, should lead a massive behavioural change campaign to transform regressive norms against women in both public and private sectors.
   

In her letter, Ezekwesili acknowledged Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bravery. She concluded by stating, “We can turn the policy window presented by this ugly incident into the best opportunity ever to transform the country’s currently awful global ranking on the state of affairs of Nigerian girls and women.”