Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has hit back at the recent public statements made by renowned Nigerian lawyer Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), who called for her to retract her sexual harassment accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s response came after Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, sent a letter on April 14, 2025, demanding that the senator provide proof of the allegations she made against Akpabio, which include claims of sexual harassment that occurred on December 8, 2023. Agbakoba also urged the senator to retract the accusations.
In her letter dated April 30, 2025, the senator responded, stating that she had not received any correspondence from Agbakoba via post, courier, or in person, and therefore rejected any assumptions that she had been deliberately ignoring the issue.
“I place it on formal record that no such letters have ever been served upon me. The imputation of recalcitrance is therefore inoperative,” Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote, challenging Agbakoba’s claim.
The senator further explained that she had remained silent due to the ongoing legal proceedings concerning her case, noting that two separate lawsuits are currently pending in court.
She pointed out that while one lawsuit, filed by Akpabio’s wife, seeks ₦250 billion in damages at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, the second lawsuit, which she herself initiated at the Federal High Court in Abuja, deals with her suspension from the Senate.
“While Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 is unrelated to the sexual harassment allegations, Suit No. CV/816/2025 is directly related to those allegations and was instituted by your client’s spouse,” she clarified.
Akpoti-Uduaghan described Agbakoba’s actions as both improper and contradictory, accusing the legal expert of attempting to sway public opinion while previously invoking the sub judice rule to prevent the Senate from investigating the allegations.
She quoted a legal maxim to underscore her point: “A litigant may not approbate in the courts and reprobate in the press.”
The senator also raised concerns about the fairness of her suspension from the Senate, stating that Akpabio had effectively judged his own case when he presided over the decision to suspend her for six months, violating the principle of natural justice. She cited the legal principle, “Nemo judex in causa sua,” meaning that no one should be a judge in their own case.
Responding to claims that her previous amicable interactions with Akpabio should nullify her accusations, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the notion, asserting that “civility should not be mistaken for consent or comfort.” She stressed that doing so undermines the seriousness of sexual harassment, particularly in a work environment where a power imbalance is present.
In closing, the senator stated that Agbakoba, no matter his legal standing, did not have the constitutional authority to demand evidence outside of the court system. “A private legal practitioner, however distinguished, is not vested with adjudicatory authority under the Constitution or any statute of the Federal Republic,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan ended her letter by reaffirming her commitment to the complaint she filed on February 28, 2025, and urged Agbakoba to guide his client on the importance of maintaining impartiality when handling matters involving personal conflicts of interest. She also requested that any future correspondence be directed to her legal representatives, ensuring all communication is handled formally.
