Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has addressed recent remarks by senior lawyer Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) concerning her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Agbakoba, a former Nigerian Bar Association president, had written a letter dated April 14, 2025, urging Natasha to withdraw her allegations and provide proof of the alleged incident, which she claims took place on December 8, 2023.
In her response, dated April 30, Senator Natasha clarified that she had not received any communication from Agbakoba by mail, courier, or direct delivery. As such, she rejected the notion that she had intentionally ignored the letter.
She emphasized that she had remained silent due to legal advice, citing the principle of lis pendens, which discourages public discussions on issues already before the courts.
She highlighted two ongoing legal matters—one instituted by Akpabio’s wife at the FCT High Court seeking ₦250 billion in damages, and another she filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging her suspension from the Senate.
According to her, while the lawsuit she initiated (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025) does not relate directly to the sexual harassment claim, Suit No. CV/816/2025—filed by Akpabio’s spouse—does.
Natasha also criticized Agbakoba’s public intervention, accusing him of attempting to sway public opinion despite previously invoking the legal concept of sub judice to stop a Senate investigation into the same issue.
She accused Akpabio of breaching the principle of fair hearing by allegedly overseeing proceedings that led to her six-month suspension from the Senate, referencing the legal maxim nemo judex in causa sua—which asserts that no one should judge a matter in which they are personally involved.
Addressing suggestions that her prior friendly relationship with Akpabio weakens her claim, Natasha insisted that civility must not be misinterpreted as consent.
She further argued that Agbakoba lacks the constitutional authority to demand evidence from her outside of a judicial process.
“No private individual, regardless of status, holds adjudicatory power under the Nigerian Constitution or any federal law,” she stated.
Natasha concluded by reaffirming her February 28 complaint and court submissions.
She urged Agbakoba to advise his client appropriately on the risks of involvement in matters where he may be personally implicated.
She noted that this reply was to set the public record straight and prevent her silence from being interpreted as acceptance. She also requested that any future correspondence be directed to her legal team.
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