Renowned jurist and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has opined that the sexual harassment allegation levelled against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, by the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is fraught with significant contradictions and, as it stands, falls short of the requisite standard for establishing sexual harassment under any credible legal system globally.
Addressing a well-attended press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, Dr Agbakoba, who also serves as legal counsel to Senator Akpabio, stressed that whilst every individual ought to feel secure in raising grievances in a just society, the fundamental tenets of justice—namely evidence, impartiality, and due process—must never be compromised.
Pursuant to this, Dr Agbakoba revealed that he had dispatched a formal letter to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on behalf of his client, requesting clarification regarding notable inconsistencies in her public allegations, which have garnered widespread attention both within Nigeria and abroad.
“The extensive media coverage has undeniably caused reputational harm to our client on a national and international scale,” Agbakoba stated in the letter. “We are, however, willing to grant a reasonable period for the Senator to provide clarification regarding the discrepancies referenced herein, while our client reserves all legal rights available to him.”
During the media briefing, Dr Agbakoba highlighted a crucial inconsistency in the Senator’s timeline of events, drawing attention to the fact that although she claimed to have been sexually harassed on 8 December 2023, she proceeded, the very next day, to publish effusive praise of the Senate President via her social media platforms.
“In her public posts of 9 December 2023, the Senator expressed admiration for Senator Akpabio, lauding both his person and the birthday celebration she attended in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. The warm, celebratory tone and the intimate nature of her expressions stand in stark contrast to the alleged traumatic experience she claims to have endured merely a day earlier,” Agbakoba noted.
He posited that this apparent juxtaposition of events merits the most scrupulous scrutiny, for it calls into question the veracity and coherence of the narrative being advanced.
Furthermore, Dr Agbakoba observed that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously levelled allegations against other public figures, including political commentator Reno Omokri and an unnamed minister. Whilst emphasising that each case ought to be adjudicated on its individual merits, he suggested that an observable pattern warranted measured examination.
“Sexual harassment is a grave matter deserving of thorough and equitable investigation. We recognise the courage it takes to bring forward such claims, and we remain committed to ensuring that all parties are treated with the dignity they deserve,” the learned silk asserted.
“Our evaluation of the public record reveals discrepancies too material to ignore. It is our considered view that serious allegations such as these should be resolved through proper institutional mechanisms, rather than trial by media.”
Dr Agbakoba concluded by reiterating his client’s intention to pursue all available legal avenues should the requested clarifications not be satisfactorily provided.
