PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed Senate President Godswill Akpabio to lead Nigerian delegation to the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City.
Akpabio leads Nigerian delegation that comprises Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop too Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese; and Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama of the Abuja Diocese to the funeral amid his ongoing struggle with sexual harassment allegations levelled against him by a fellow senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.
As part of Tinubu’s delegation, Akpabio is expected to formally deliver a letter to the acting head of the Vatican, conveying the president’s condolences.
The ICIR reported that Pope Francis passed away on Monday, April 21, aged 88. He will be laid to rest on Saturday, April 26.
In a statement released on Friday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced that the Senate President would lead a five-member delegation to the funeral.
The ICIR reports that since February, Akpabio has been in the spotlight over sexual harassment allegation against him by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The female lawmaker submitted a petition before the Senate against Akpabio in March.
Before the allegation, Akpoti-Uduaghan had had a face-off with Akpabio over seating arrangement in the Senate.
The altercation led to the Senate President ordering the sergeant-at-arm to walk the female lawmaker out of the Senate Chamber.
She was subsequently suspended for six months.
The decision sparked public outrage as many Nigerians have since been demanding for a thorough investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against Senate President.
Meanwhile, the Senate President has repeatedly denied the allegation, and the matter is currently in court.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues.
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