Swallow Your Pride, Retract False Sexual Harassment Allegation Against Akpabio, Agbakoba Tells Natasha
Prominent legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, has called on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to retract her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, describing them as “clearly false and unsubstantiated.”
Agbakoba, who is representing Akpabio in the matter, made the demand in a second letter dated April 22, 2025, after an initial letter sent on April 14 reportedly received no response. In the correspondence, Agbakoba cited what he described as inconsistencies in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims and questioned the integrity of the accusation.
The alleged incident is said to have occurred on December 8, 2023, during a visit to Akpabio’s residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. However, Agbakoba noted that the following day, December 9, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made several social media posts praising the Senate President—posts that were later deleted.
He also pointed to the senator’s continued public interactions with Akpabio over the months, including their appearance together at the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Geneva in March 2024, where they were photographed smiling and conversing.
“The conduct of Senator Natasha in the weeks and months following the alleged incident contradicts her current claims,” Agbakoba stated.
In response, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan posted a satirical “apology” letter on her social media platforms, dismissing Agbakoba’s claims and criticizing what she described as a culture of entitlement and impropriety within the Nigerian Senate.
She accused some senior lawmakers of expecting legislative support in exchange for personal favors, challenging the status quo of political patronage.
The controversy began in February 2025 when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Senate President Akpabio of making inappropriate comments and implying that her legislative proposals would only move forward if she “took care” of him.
Akpabio has denied the allegations, stating his innocence and urging Nigerians to allow the legal system to handle the issue.
On March 6, 2025, the Senate suspended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months without pay, citing “unruly and disruptive behavior.” Her sexual harassment complaint was subsequently dismissed on procedural grounds, as Senate rules prohibit members from personally signing and submitting petitions.
The case has sparked nationwide protests under the slogan “We Are All Natasha”, with demonstrators rallying in major cities including Lagos, Enugu, Edo, and Kaduna to demand accountability and institutional reform.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has since taken her complaint to the international stage, presenting her case at a United Nations forum and calling for global support to end gender-based harassment in politics.
A petition to recall her from office was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but was rejected, with INEC stating that the petition “failed to meet constitutional standards.”
As the legal and political battle continues, the case has become a flashpoint for broader conversations about gender, power, and justice in Nigeria’s political landscape.
