Suspended Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of pressuring her to extort kickbacks from federal ministers and agency heads for his personal gain.
In an interview with journalist Adeola Fayehun, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio expected her, as then-chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content, to “harass” officials—including the Ministers of Petroleum and Gas, and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)—for money and favours.
She claimed Akpabio dismissed her performance report and instead directed her to a senior senator to “learn” that reporting progress meant delivering kickbacks. “They said that’s the norm under him,” she said.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senate President told her: “If you don’t know how to harass the ministers… you’re not capable of running the committee.” She further alleged that Akpabio repeatedly pressured her to arrange private meetings with ministry officials, which she refused.
The senator also reaffirmed earlier claims of sexual harassment against Akpabio and denied involvement in budget padding, saying many senators face intense internal pressure to satisfy powerful figures within the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate in March 2025 for alleged misconduct. The controversy has since evolved into a legal standoff.
