Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba on Thursday sensationally claimed that a powerful man from Parliament hid her passport, blocking her from traveling to Geneva, Switzerland for a conference.
The Senator in a statement before the floor of the house revealed that the incident happened after she raised complaints and concerns about favouritism and harassment coming from a powerful politician serving in parliament.
Orwoba did not reveal the name of the powerful politician.
"I raised complaints and concerns about favouritism and solicitation of sexual favours coming from a powerful and influential office held by a man in the Senate," Orwoba stated in Senate.
The Senator has claimed that she missed traveling after her passport was not submitted to the embassy as required.
“On May 14th I was invited to participate in the United Nations 53rd Human Rights Council Session in Geneva,” she stated.
“As per protocol I submitted my passport and asked for facilitation. I was told it was impossible due to various reasons.”
Orwoba noted that she communicated to Geneva about the situation and the UN decided to foot the bill for her travels.
On the eve of travel, she learned that the embassy was yet to process her visa and as such she missed an opportunity to present her legislative work and advocacy for women's empowerment. She came to find out later that her passport had been hidden and had not been presented to the embassy to process travel documents.
When she planned to present a personal statement on the matter, she alleged that a powerful office engineered a retaliation attack by having the Powers and Privilege Committee summon her with trumped-up charges.
The Senate will today discuss a motion by the Committee into the conduct of the Senator and establish if the conduct constituted a breach of the parliamentary privilege.
“The House will be discussing whether to punish me moderately or to hang me violently for having reported harassment incident and retaliation by a senior staff member,” she spoke of the charges.
The senator revealed that she has decided to make the matter public to end the retaliation towards victims to silence them from seeking justice.
Orwoba has gained national and international popularity due to her efforts to end period poverty.
