Human rights lawyer and advocate, Deji Adeyanju, has called on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide proof for her claims of sexual misconduct against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
It is significant to mention that Akpoti-Uduaghan recently charged Akpabio with making unwanted propositions during a visit to his residence in December 2023. In light of these accusations, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions assessed her actions and suggested a six-month suspension, which was later endorsed by the Senate.
This suspension carries multiple repercussions: her Senate office will be shuttered, her salaries and allowances will be withheld, her security team will be rescinded, she will be barred from official representation, and she will be restricted from setting foot in the National Assembly grounds for the entirety of the suspension period.
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In a statement released on Friday, Adeyanju pointed out that the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio has been overly examined.
He underscored the absence of public indignation when lawmakers engaged in the allocation of vehicles, funds, and budget distributions within the National Assembly.
He stated
, “The issue has been excessively discussed. I believe that the parties should approach the courts and settle their disputes. Concentrating on Nigeria’s tax reform bill and finding ways to halt the passage of the tax reform bill is far more crucial than this international affair.”
He further questioned why the same senators tangled in this altercation did not raise their voices against the harmful policies of the current administration.
Adeyanju remarked,
The question I pose is: when all these anti-people measures of the Tinubu government were implemented, why didn’t these senators, who are now battling over allegations of sexual harassment, the claim of ‘oh, she’s shaming the Senate,’ the culture of silence, and all that, protest against the anti-people measures?
“All the times they’ve shared vehicles in the National Assembly, we heard no protests. During the distribution of money and budget allocations, we didn’t witness any contention. Now, we are hearing discord.
“I genuinely believe that Senator Natasha has made these accusations that the Senate President attempted to sexually harass her. I also feel it is imperative that Senator Natasha, since they have denied her a fair hearing in the Senate, publicly present credible evidence to substantiate her claims.
“It’s quite simple. The gentleman has claimed it is false. ‘I did nothing to her.’ So if there are messages — perhaps ‘oh, please come over, such and such’ — please disclose them, expose him. After all, he who alleges must substantiate. Why shield the man?”