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| Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan: Nigerian senator suspended after accusing Godswill Akpabio of sexual abuse | Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan: Nigerian senator suspended after accusing Godswill Akpabio of sexual abuse |
| (5 days later) | |
| Nigerian senators voted to suspend Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months | Nigerian senators voted to suspend Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months |
| Nigerian lawmakers have suspended a senator for six months, after she submitted a petition alleging she had been sexually harassed by the senate president. | Nigerian lawmakers have suspended a senator for six months, after she submitted a petition alleging she had been sexually harassed by the senate president. |
| Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan first made the accusations against one of the country's top politicians, Godswill Akpabio in an interview last Friday. | Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan first made the accusations against one of the country's top politicians, Godswill Akpabio in an interview last Friday. |
| After dismissing her petition on procedural grounds, the ethics committee recommended Uduaghan's suspension, saying she had brought "public opprobrium" to the upper chamber of the National Assembly. | |
| Some senators argued that her suspension be cut to three months but a majority voted to stick with the six months suspension recommended by the ethics committee. | Some senators argued that her suspension be cut to three months but a majority voted to stick with the six months suspension recommended by the ethics committee. |
| Women's rights activist Hadiza Ado told the BBC that Senator Uduaghan's suspension was a “sad day for Nigerian women". | Women's rights activist Hadiza Ado told the BBC that Senator Uduaghan's suspension was a “sad day for Nigerian women". |
| Uduaghan afterwards described her suspension as "an injustice that will not be sustained". | Uduaghan afterwards described her suspension as "an injustice that will not be sustained". |
| She vowed to continue her "pursuit for justice" over her treatment. | She vowed to continue her "pursuit for justice" over her treatment. |
| The Senate leadership later stressed that Uduaghan had been suspended because she had engaged in "unruly and disruptive" behaviour during the session, and not because of her allegations against Akpabio. | |
| The accusations have dominated discussions across Nigeria since she first made them nearly a week ago. | The accusations have dominated discussions across Nigeria since she first made them nearly a week ago. |
| Many highly placed people and groups have called for a transparent investigation. | Many highly placed people and groups have called for a transparent investigation. |
| On Wednesday, two groups of protesters gathered at the assembly ground in the capital, Abuja - one backing Akpabio and the other in support of his colleague, chanting ''Akpabio must go.'' | On Wednesday, two groups of protesters gathered at the assembly ground in the capital, Abuja - one backing Akpabio and the other in support of his colleague, chanting ''Akpabio must go.'' |
| Mrs Ado, who founded the Women and Children Initiative, said: “We’ve been following events at the Assembly keenly and hoping that investigation into Natasha’s allegations would follow.” | Mrs Ado, who founded the Women and Children Initiative, said: “We’ve been following events at the Assembly keenly and hoping that investigation into Natasha’s allegations would follow.” |
| “All we can say is that today is a sad day for Nigerian women fighting for emancipation. Out of 109 senators, only four are women and one is now suspended,” she said. | “All we can say is that today is a sad day for Nigerian women fighting for emancipation. Out of 109 senators, only four are women and one is now suspended,” she said. |
| Many women on social media also expressed their anger over the suspension, with some calling it “oppression.” | Many women on social media also expressed their anger over the suspension, with some calling it “oppression.” |
| During her suspension, Uduaghan will be barred from the National Assembly premises and her office will be locked. | During her suspension, Uduaghan will be barred from the National Assembly premises and her office will be locked. |
| Update 10 March: This story has been updated to reflect the reasons later given by the senate for suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan | |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Nigerian Muslims arrested for eating in public during Ramadan | Nigerian Muslims arrested for eating in public during Ramadan |
| Regrets, executions and coups: Four takeaways from former Nigerian military ruler's book | Regrets, executions and coups: Four takeaways from former Nigerian military ruler's book |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |