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Nigerian lawmakers have suspended a senator for six months, after she submitted a petition alleging she had been sexually harassed by the senate president.<\/p>\n
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan first made the accusations against one of the country’s top politicians, Godswill Akpabio in an interview last Friday.<\/p>\n
After dismissing her petition on procedural grounds, the ethics committee recommended Uduaghan’s suspension, saying she had brought ridicule to the upper chamber of the National Assembly.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Women’s rights activist Hadiza Ado told the BBC that Senator Uduaghan’s suspension was a \u201csad day for Nigerian women”.<\/p>\n
Uduaghan afterwards described her suspension as “an injustice that will not be sustained”.<\/p>\n
She vowed to continue her “pursuit for justice” over her treatment.<\/p>\n
The accusations have dominated discussions across Nigeria since she first made them nearly a week ago.<\/p>\n
Many highly placed people and groups have called for a transparent investigation.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
Mrs Ado, who founded the Women and Children Initiative, said: \u201cWe\u2019ve been following events at the Assembly keenly and hoping that investigation into Natasha\u2019s allegations would follow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Many women on social media also expressed their anger over the suspension, with some calling it \u201coppression.\u201d<\/p>\n
During her suspension, Uduaghan will be barred from the National Assembly premises and her office will be locked.<\/p>\n