Sexual Harassment: I will never withdraw suit against Akpabio, Natasha response Agbakoba

The Senator representing Kogi Central at the Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Wednesday vowed to pursue the suit accusing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of alleged sexual harassment to a logical conclusion in court. The lawmaker disclosed this in an official letter written to the office of Akpabio’s counsel, Olisa Agbakoba dated April 30 in Abuja. The PUNCH reported that the legal luminary raised concerns over what he described as “significant inconsistencies” in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegation against his client.

Consequently, Agbakoba wrote a letter to the senator demanding a retraction of what he described as a “clearly false and unsubstantiated” allegation. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria stated that the note became necessary because the embattled lawmaker had failed to clarify the significant contradictions in her allegations against Akpabio, as demanded in his first letter, dated April 14, 2025. Reacting, Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote back to Agbakoba on Wednesday, insisting that her petition of sexual harassment represents the truth of the events complained about.

The lawmaker also faulted the Senate President’s counsel for allegedly calling on her to substantiate the allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, outside the pleadings already before the High Court of the FCT on the same complaint by Akpabio’s spouse, Unoma in suit No. CV/816/25. According to her, she will reserve further comments for the court, which has the exclusive preserve to exercise judgment on the propriety or otherwise of the matter.

“The assessment of evidence belongs to the courts alone.

“The nature of your demand for evidence in this manner, at the instance of your client, simply indicates a broader misconception of what truly amounts to sexual harassment as prescribed in several global protocols,” she argued. “It underscores a narrow perspective of the nature of this global menace. It is my respectful opinion that this is another attempt by your client to play to the gallery and relegate this matter yet again to the backwaters.

“Should further particulars be required, they will be furnished in the ordinary course of disclosure, subject to the direction of the Honourable Courts. Any attempt to circumvent that regulated process risks subverting the very rule-of-law values you have championed throughout your distinguished career’, she said. Akpoti-Uduaghan also raised concerns that it is irreconcilable that Akpabio now mounts a media campaign, allegedly through Agbakoba, demanding that she furnish proof in a domain he would not allow to be addressed by the Senate due to his privileged position.

“The principle is elementary: a litigant may not approbate in the courts and reprobate in the press. The rule against parallel adjudication safeguards the integrity of judicial determination, preserves the fairness of proceedings, and secures the dignity of all arms of government,” she stressed.