The Senate said it suspended Kogi lawmaker Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over “abusive and disrespectful” comments about Senate President Godswil Akpabio and for violating house rules.

In a statement on Saturday, Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele blamed the media for attributing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension to her allegation that the Senate president sexually harassed her.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for “Making abusive and disrespectful remarks against the leadership of the Senate,” Mr Bamidele said, listing other house rules she violated.

Mr Bamidele said the Kogi lawmaker was suspended because of her “unparliamentary behaviour” during plenaries and proceedings.

The Senate leader said the disciplinary action was a response to her repeated violations of legislative decorum, including refusing to sit in her assigned seat during plenary on February 25, speaking without being recognised by the presiding officer, engaging in unruly and disruptive behaviour and defying and refusing to comply with the summons of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges mandated to investigate cases of misconduct.

The Senate’s explanation comes amid criticism over the hurried suspension of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, who accused Mr Akpabio of sexually harassing her without investigating her petition.

Mr Akpabio has denied the allegation, dismissing it as “useless”. However, Nigerians have continued to criticise the Senate for suspending Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan without looking into the substance of her petition.