The Senator representing Kogi Central at the Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Wednesday vowed to pursue the suit accusing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of alleged sexual harassment to a logical conclusion in court.<\/p>\n
The lawmaker disclosed this in an official letter written to the office of Akpabio\u2019s counsel, Olisa Agbakoba, dated April 30 in Abuja.<\/p>\n
The legal luminary raised concerns over what he described as \u201csignificant inconsistencies\u201d in Akpoti-Uduaghan\u2019s sexual harassment allegation against his client.<\/p>\n
Consequently, Agbakoba wrote a letter to the senator demanding a retraction of what he described as a \u201cclearly false and unsubstantiated\u201d allegation.<\/p>\n
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria stated that the note became necessary because the embattled lawmaker had failed to clarify the significant contradictions in her allegations against Akpabio, as demanded in his first letter, dated April 14, 2025.<\/p>\n
Reacting, Akpoti-Uduaghan wrote back to Agbakoba on Wednesday, insisting that her petition of sexual harassment represents the truth of the events complained about.<\/p>\n
The lawmaker also faulted the Senate President\u2019s counsel for allegedly calling on her to substantiate the allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, outside the pleadings already before the High Court of the FCT on the same complaint by Akpabio\u2019s spouse, Unoma, in suit No. CV\/816\/25.<\/p>\n
According to her, she will reserve further comments for the court, which has the exclusive power to exercise judgment on the propriety or otherwise of the matter.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThe assessment of evidence belongs to the courts alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe nature of your demand for evidence in this manner, at the instance of your client, simply indicates a broader misconception of what truly amounts to sexual harassment as prescribed in several global protocols,\u201d she argued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt underscores a narrow perspective of the nature of this global menace. It is my respectful opinion that this is another attempt by your client to play to the gallery and relegate this matter yet again to the backwaters.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould further particulars be required, they will be furnished in the ordinary course of disclosure, subject to the direction of the Honourable Courts.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny attempt to circumvent that regulated process risks subverting the very rule-of-law values you have championed throughout your distinguished career, she said.<\/p>\n
Akpoti-Uduaghan also raised concerns that it is irreconcilable that Akpabio now mounts a media campaign, allegedly through Agbakoba, demanding that she furnish proof in a domain he would not allow to be addressed by the Senate due to his privileged position.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe principle is elementary: a litigant may not approbate in the courts and reprobate in the press.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rule against parallel adjudication safeguards the integrity of judicial determination, preserves the fairness of proceedings, and secures the dignity of all arms of government,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Senator representing Kogi Central at the Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Wednesday vowed to pursue the suit accusing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of alleged sexual harassment to a logical conclusion in court. The...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t