Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Stands Firm In Sexual Harassment Case Against Senate President Akpabio.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has vowed to press forward with her legal action accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, despite mounting pressure to retract her claims. In a strongly worded letter dated 30 April 2025 to Akpabio’s counsel, Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the senator reiterated that her allegations are truthful and will be addressed through the courts.
The case, which has sparked significant public interest, stems from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition alleging sexual harassment by Akpabio, the details of which are now before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Suit No. CV/816/25, initiated by Akpabio’s spouse, Unoma. The senator has accused Agbakoba of attempting to force her to substantiate her claims outside the judicial process, a move she described as a “misconception” of the nature of sexual harassment as defined by global protocols.
“The assessment of evidence is the exclusive preserve of the courts,” Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote. “Your demand for evidence in this manner indicates a narrow perspective of this global menace and appears to be an attempt to trivialise a serious matter.”
She further criticised Akpabio for allegedly orchestrating a media campaign through Agbakoba to discredit her, while simultaneously avoiding Senate scrutiny due to his influential position. “A litigant may not approbate in the courts and reprobate in the press,” she stated, citing the principle against parallel adjudication to protect the integrity of judicial proceedings.
The senator also addressed a social media post from 9 December 2023, in which she acknowledged Akpabio’s presence at a public event, and photographs from the Inter-Parliamentary Union Session in Geneva (24–25 March 2024) showing professional interactions. She argued that such outward civility does not negate her allegations, warning that interpreting it as such risks undermining the gravity of workplace harassment, particularly when involving a dominant position.
Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that she had not received prior correspondence from Agbakoba, contrary to his claims. She noted that two related lawsuits are ongoing: one filed by Unoma Akpabio seeking ₦250 billion in damages for defamation and sexual harassment allegations, and another by Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her referral to the Senate’s ethics committee and subsequent six-month suspension without a fair hearing.
In response, Agbakoba, speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, demanded that the senator retract what he called “clearly false and unsubstantiated” allegations. He highlighted contradictions between her claims of harassment on 8 December 2023 and a social media post the following day praising Akpabio, which she later deleted. “Rather than clarify this contradiction, you deleted the post, which to us is extremely concerning,” Agbakoba stated in a letter dated 22 April 2025.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, has maintained a stance of restraint, citing legal advice and the doctrine of lis pendens, which discourages public commentary on matters under judicial review. “Given that both suits are before courts of competent jurisdiction, it is improper for any party to make extrajudicial comments,” she asserted.
As the legal battle unfolds, the senator’s resolve to pursue justice underscores the broader fight against workplace harassment, particularly in high-profile political spheres. The courts will ultimately determine the outcome of this high-stakes dispute, which continues to draw intense scrutiny.
