Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has refuted claims suggesting that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan previously accused him of sexual harassment.
The allegation surfaced in a media report on Wednesday, which stated that Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North) referenced such claims during a Senate plenary session.
In response, Fayemi’s media office, through its head, Ahmad Sajoh, dismissed the report as misleading.
The statement clarified that a review of the plenary session’s records showed that Senator Fasuyi never made such an assertion and that the claim was a misrepresentation of his remarks.
“Our attention has been drawn to a report published by The Cable, which claims that Senator Cyril Fasuyi alleged during a Senate plenary session that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously accused Dr. Kayode Fayemi of sexual harassment.
“We categorically state that this report is inaccurate and misrepresents the actual comments made by the senator. A careful review of the plenary session’s proceedings confirms that no such allegation was raised. Instead, Senator Fasuyi referred to past instances where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made unfounded and defamatory statements about Dr. Fayemi during his tenure as Minister of Mines and Steel Development, particularly in relation to the Ajaokuta Steel Company.”
The statement further clarified that no allegations of sexual misconduct had ever been made against Fayemi.
“For the record, neither Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan nor anyone else has ever accused Dr. Fayemi of sexual misconduct. He has consistently upheld high ethical standards in public service, and we strongly reject any attempt to associate his name with false and damaging allegations.”
The media office also emphasized that Fayemi has no involvement in the ongoing controversy in the Senate, stating that his past interactions with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan were purely professional.
It added that any disagreements they had were based on policy differences rather than personal conflicts.
(Prompt news)