Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday said he slept at the Dangote Cement factory on the night of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s wedding to show support for her husband, who “he thought was his friend and brother”.

“I slept in Dangote cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State on the night of Senator Natasha’s wedding because the Kogi airport lights were in a poor state,” Mr Akpabio said during plenary on Thursday.

Mr Akpabio’s assertion came amid the six-month controversial suspension of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate for violating the upper chamber’s rules after she accused the Senate president of sexual Harassment.

The Kogi senator had also accused Mr Akpabio of abuse of power and restriction of her legislative functions in the Senate, saying her suspension was purely unjust.

Before her suspension from the assembly, the female lawmaker had submitted a petition twice against Mr Akpabio, accusing the senate president of attempts to silence and harass her.

Mr Akpabio, however, denied all the allegations against him, stating he was raised well by his parents.

The Senate president on Thursday also referred the petition to the committee on code of conduct, ethics and public petition, awaiting a report in four weeks.

Meanwhile, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu applauded the Senate for “doing the needful” and added that the upper chamber remains a “mature” institution that must be treated with respect.

“I was there for 12 years, even in my younger days, and I’m still trying to look young, but people compliment you all the time, only that, women raise yourself, don’t be in a position that men will be talking to you anyhow,” Mrs Tinubu said.