Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has sharply criticized legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, over his demand for a retraction and evidence of her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a detailed rebuttal delivered through a letter dated April 30 and addressed to Agbakoba’s chambers, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that the matter is now firmly in the hands of the Federal Capital Territory High Court and warned that public pressure to unveil evidence ahead of judicial proceedings undermines legal standards and international best practices on handling sexual harassment claims.
“The assessment of evidence belongs to the courts alone,” Akpoti-Uduaghan declared. “Your demand suggests a misunderstanding of legal procedure and how sexual harassment cases are adjudicated globally. Forcing a premature disclosure of evidence is inappropriate and prejudicial.”
Responding to Agbakoba’s earlier assertion that her petition against Akpabio was “clearly false and unsubstantiated,” the embattled senator maintained that her submission to the court remains factual and will be vigorously defended in the appropriate legal forum. She insisted that any further disclosures will be made strictly “in the ordinary course of disclosure, subject to the direction of the honourable courts.”
Describing Agbakoba’s intervention as an attempt to stifle due process, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed concern over what she alleged was a media campaign orchestrated by the senior lawyer on behalf of his client, the Senate President.
“The principle is elementary: a litigant may not approbate in the courts and reprobate in the press,” she wrote. “Such parallel adjudication not only undermines the integrity of judicial processes but also jeopardizes fairness and the dignity of all arms of government.”
She stressed that cases of sexual harassment should be treated with sensitivity and in accordance with both domestic legal procedures and international conventions, cautioning that aggressive public rhetoric could discourage survivors from seeking justice.
Agbakoba had earlier questioned the credibility of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims and demanded a retraction, pointing out inconsistencies and the absence of corroborating evidence. His demand followed public outcry and political fallout resulting from the allegations made by the senator.
