Suspended Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), has reaffirmed her determination to pursue a sexual harassment lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, declaring that the courts will ultimately decide the matter.
In a letter dated April 30, 2025, addressed to Akpabio’s legal counsel, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted her claims were rooted in truth and would be handled solely through legal channels. She stated she would no longer engage in public commentary, emphasizing respect for the judicial process.
The case stems from a suit filed by Akpabio’s wife, Unoma Akpabio, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, which has added to the escalating legal and political drama.
Responding to Agbakoba’s public request for evidence, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the move as a misrepresentation of due legal procedure.
“The assessment of evidence belongs to the courts alone,” she wrote. “Your demand, initiated by your client, reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the legal framework governing sexual harassment under various international protocols.”
She further stated that any required particulars would be provided during the court-ordered disclosure process, warning that attempts to bypass legal procedure could undermine the rule of law.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused Akpabio of previously using his position to block discussions of the issue in the Senate, calling his public demand for evidence a contradiction.
“This contradiction is irreconcilable,” she said. “I remain resolute and will pursue this case to its legal conclusion.”
Her legal battle follows her suspension from the Senate on March 6, 2025, after a heated session in which she protested the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio. The Senate handed her a six-month suspension and barred her from entering the National Assembly premises. She was also directed to tender a written apology before any possible recall.
Despite the political setback, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s latest statement signals that she remains undeterred in her pursuit of justice.
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