Why I did not defend myself, suspended Senator Gloria Orwoba speaks

Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba.[Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has explained why she did not give her side of the story before her suspension from the House.

The suspended senator who is currently out of the country claimed that her suspension was out of retaliation over the sexual favours allegations that she made.

In a video recording, Orwoba claimed that she was not given time to defend herself before the senate decided to suspend her.

"Powers and Privilege committee did not invite me to share my story. What they did was, charge me for complaining in retaliation. I have repeatedly asked for evidence. In fact, my latest one is a letter I wrote saying that the Senate has to release a Travel report because it is obvious when it comes out it will not be my word against the Clerk," said Orwoba.

She said that she had insisted on having the travel report that could form part of her evidence on the allegations labeled against her but her efforts to obtain it were futile.

Orwoba has denied the remarks made during her dismissal of her refusing to appear before the committee to back up her claims.

"I don't understand that the Senate is aware that I am not there, but they brought the motion. They knew that I would not get my 15 minutes to discuss this, and that is what is upsetting," she posed.

"Why couldn't the Senate wait until I'm back and put it on the order paper? Why did they take it out of parliament when I was in parliament? When I was in parliament the motion was adjourned and I was told it would be dealt with outside parliament."

She responded following a decision by Parliament on Wednesday, September 20 to adopt recommendations made by the Powers and Privileges Committee on her suspension.
"Senator Gloria Orwoba was given an opportunity to be heard by the Powers and Privileges Committee but the Senator declined to participate in the inquiry therefore the committee could not substantiate the claims she made," said the report by the committee chaired by Speaker Amason Kingi.

The senators present in the session voted in majority to suspend her from accessing the parliament for a period of six months.
However, the nominated senator has maintained her claims of sexual favours and discrimination in parliament saying that she will continue to be a whistle-blower.