Olisa Agbakoba, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has faulted the sexual harassment allegation levelled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central.
Agbakoba, counsel to the senate president, spoke on Tuesday during a press conference in Lagos.
The senior lawyer said the sexual harassment allegation by the lawmaker did not meet the “threshold” of proving such a claim anywhere in the world.
On February 28, Akpoti-Uduaghan, in an interview on Arise TV, alleged that the senate president made sexual advances at her in his office and residence in Akwa Ibom.
The Kogi senator had said the sexual advances were made when she and her husband visited Akpabio’s home in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, for the senate president’s birthday celebration in December 2023.
But the senate president had denied the sexual harassment allegation.
Days before the sexual harassment allegation, Akpoti-Uduaghan was involved in an altercation with the senate president on the floor of the upper legislative chamber over a change in seating arrangements.
The disagreement began when Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat was reassigned at the start of plenary. However, she refused to comply with the relocation.
On March 6, the senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over the altercation with Akpabio.
The decision followed the adoption of the report by the senate committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions.
Speaking at the press conference, Agbakoba said he is interested in finding out the truth pertaining to the alleged sexual harassment.
The senior lawyer said sexual harassment is an issue that deserves fair and careful consideration.
“Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claims that she was sexually harassed by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on December 8, 2023,” Agbakoba said.
“However, merely one day later, on December 9, 2023, she publicly posted favourable messages about the Senate President on both her Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts.
“In these posts, she eulogised the Senate President and spoke highly of the birthday event she attended in Uyo, Akwa Ibom,” Agbakoba stated.
“Sexual harassment is a serious matter that deserves careful and fair consideration.
“We acknowledge the difficulty faced by anyone making such allegations and the importance of treating all parties with dignity.
“Our review of the available public records reveals significant contradictions that must be considered for a fair evaluation of the situation.
“We believe that proper institutional processes, rather than media forums, provide the appropriate venue for addressing such serious matters.”
