Former Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe, has shared his thoughts on the ongoing controversy regarding the sexual harassment allegations involving Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
During an interview on Arise Television, Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Mr. Akpabio of sexually harassing her.
The lawmaker was suspended for six months, starting on March 6, following the Senate’s review of a report presented by Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
However, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele denied that the suspension was related to the harassment claim. He insisted that her suspension was due to ongoing misconduct, disrespect for Senate rules, and gross indiscipline.
Speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Monday, Ogunlewe shared his perspective on why Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan often found herself at the center of such harassment incidents.
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He stated, “Senator Natasha’s beauty works against her because when a beautiful woman walks by, men’s behavior changes. They might smile but not engage with her. Natasha’s beauty is undeniably a challenge for her. When she passes by, men can’t help but look at her, even if they don’t speak. It’s natural for men to notice a beautiful woman because it’s instinctual to look when a woman like that walks by.”
Despite this, Ogunlewe, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), criticized Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
The 81-year-old pointed out that during his time in the Senate, female senators did not see themselves as inferior to their male colleagues, citing Ita Giwa and others as examples.
“The alleged harassment didn’t happen in the Senate,” he said, noting that Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed the incident occurred when she visited Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s residence, which he considered a separate issue. He also argued that the committee rushed through the process, knowing what they were doing.
“They should have consulted more widely, as there’s a committee on judiciary and legal matters that should have reviewed the case and stated that the suspension was unjust. There’s precedent for this—how can someone commit an offense and be unaware that it’s against the law?” said the University of Ibadan alumnus.
Additionally, Ogunlewe criticized the conditions set by the committee for Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, calling them indicative of ignorance.
“The committee didn’t elect Natasha, and their actions show a lack of understanding and a violation of her privilege. They went as far as saying she shouldn’t act as a senator again. It’s clear that the committee Chairman was influenced by the Senate President,” he argued.
“The suspension wasn’t carried out properly; it was predetermined, and they knew what they were doing. They made themselves look disorganized. They should have been more careful, as rushing the process exposed their biases. They weren’t serious about it, and that was evident in their actions.”
He further criticized the speed of Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, emphasizing that the committee should have exercised more caution and taken more time in their deliberations.
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