Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has issued a statement in response to recent public comments by legal expert Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) concerning her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), had in a letter dated April 14, 2025, called on Senator Natasha to retract her claims and to present evidence that Akpabio sexually harassed her on December 8, 2023.
In her reply dated April 30, Natasha clarified that she had not received any correspondence from Agbakoba via mail, courier, or personal delivery, and thus dismissed any notion that she was deliberately silent.
Natasha emphasized that she has never received any letters from Agbakoba, dismissing any claims of her being recalcitrant. She explained her previous silence was due to the legal doctrine of lis pendens, which discourages public discussion of cases already before the courts. Currently, two lawsuits are pending: one by Akpabio’s wife seeking ₦250 billion in damages, and another filed by Natasha challenging her Senate suspension, which directly relates to the harassment allegations.
She criticized Agbakoba for seeking to influence public opinion while previously invoking the sub judice rule to prevent a Senate investigation. Natasha also accused Akpabio of presiding over his own case during her suspension, violating the principle of natural justice that no one should judge their own cause.
Natasha dismissed suggestions that her previous respectful interactions with Akpabio undermine her harassment claims, emphasizing that civility does not imply consent or comfort. She stressed that such interactions should not diminish the seriousness of her allegations, especially given the power imbalance involved. She also clarified that Agbakoba has no constitutional authority to demand evidence outside the judicial process, noting that as a private lawyer, he lacks adjudicatory power under the law.
Reaffirming her February 28, 2025, complaint and court filings, Natasha urged Agbakoba to advise his client appropriately, particularly given the potential conflict of interest. She concluded by stating that her letter aims to set the record straight and prevent any misleading interpretations from her silence, requesting future correspondence be directed through her legal representatives.