Agbakoba To Natasha: Retract Sexual Harassment Allegation Against Akpabio
Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has asked the suspended senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to retract what he described as her “clearly false and unsubstantiated” sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, on Tuesday, Agbakoba, who is also the Senate President’s lawyer, said the demand became necessary following the failure of Natasha to clarify the contradictions in her allegations against Akpabio as demanded in his first letter, dated April 14, 2025.
Natasha had accused Akpabio of persistent sexual harassment. She claimed that Akpabio’s hostility towards her stems from her refusal to entertain them. But in a letter he signed for Olisa Agbakoba Legal (AOL), dated April 22, 2025, Agbakoba said, “Recall that in our first letter to you, dated April 14, 2025, we requested that you clarify contradictions in your sexual harassment allegation against our client, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Of note is the contradiction as to timeline and dates.
“You have failed to clarify your sexual harassment allegation on December 8, 2023, and your exaltation of Senator Akpabio on your social media accounts (Instagram and X/ Twitter) on December 9, 2023 – the day after you alleged he sexually harassed you.
“Rather than clarify this contradiction, you deleted the social media post, which to us is extremely concerning.”
Insisting that it was Natasha’s duty to prove the allegation against Akpabio, the former NBA Chairman reminded the suspended senator, “You claim that the sexual harassment occurred on December 8, 2023, but your allegation was not made until 28th February 2025. One year and 2 months after? “Additionally, rather than take up this serious allegation that occurred on December 8, 2023, you were seen throughout 2024 at several legislative and non-legislative events (locally and internationally) with Senator Akpabio, your alleged harasser.
“For example, you were seen together at the Inter-Parliamentary Union session in Geneva on the 24th and 25th of March 2024. In fact, you took several selfies and group photos with him during these events.
“All these events were posted in warm tones by you on your social media platforms. Please see screenshot copies of your Facebook post(s) and other photos you took with Senator Akpabio. We find this contradictory and unbelievable.”
Consequently, Agbakoba told Natasha that “having also failed to clarify inconsistencies pointed out in our first letter to you, we demand that you retract sexual harassment allegations against our client as they are clearly false and unsubstantiated.”
Independent.ng
