Prominent lawyer Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has expressed concerns about “significant inconsistencies” in the sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. At a media briefing in Lagos, Agbakoba, who leads Akpabio’s legal team, urged for a fair and evidence-based approach to these serious claims. He reiterated his commitment to combating gender-based harassment but stressed the importance of justice, fairness, and objectivity in handling such cases.
Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, a seasoned lawyer with over 40 years of experience, has raised questions about the timeline of events surrounding Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. He pointed out that although the alleged incident occurred on December 8, 2023, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan posted positive remarks about Akpabio on social media the next day, creating a contradiction that warrants scrutiny.
Agbakoba highlighted previous allegations by Akpoti-Uduaghan, including a 2021 claim against a former presidential aide that was later retracted, as well as accusations against an unnamed minister. He acknowledged that prior incidents do not invalidate current claims but emphasized the need for consistency and corroboration. He urged the senator to provide additional evidence, noting that the current allegations do not meet the global legal standards required to prove sexual harassment. Agbakoba stressed that such matters should be resolved through appropriate institutional processes rather than media speculation.
In a letter dated April 14, which has not yet been formally delivered, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba’s team requested clarification from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan regarding the identified contradictions in her allegations. They provided a two-week period for her response to guide their next steps.
Agbakoba emphasized the seriousness of sexual harassment claims but also highlighted the importance of the presumption of innocence, urging that the matter be guided by facts rather than emotions.