IBRAHIM QUADRI
A legal luminary and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) has said the sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has significant timeline contradictions.
Agbakoba made the remark during a press conference in his office, Apapa, Lagos on Tuesday, noting that the allegation, “as it currently stands, falls short of the threshold for proving sexual harassment anywhere in the world.”
In a letter dated April 14, 2025, which was addressed to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan asserted that while individuals should feel safe to speak up in an ideal society, the principles of justice, which required evidence and fairness must be upheld.
The renowned lawyer, who is also Akpabio’s lawyer, wrote the letter to the Kogi Senator, on the instruction of the Senate President, asking her to clarify the contradictions in her allegations, which were published widely in local and international newspapers.
The letter was titled, ‘Re: Your Allegation of Sexual Harassment Against Senator Gidswill Akpabio,’ stated, “This widespread coverage has damaged our client’s reputation locally and internationally. We are happy to allow you a reasonable time to clarify the contradictions that we have referred, while our client reserves the right to all legal options.”
He specifically pointed out that the warm, celebratory tone and personal affection expressed in the public message the suspended Senator posted a day after the alleged harassment presented a significant timeline contradiction that could not be overlooked.
In his argument, Agbakoba, noted that the embattled Senator had claimed that she was sexually harassed by Akpabio on December 8, 2023, but she went on social media to eulogize the same Senate President a day after that.
“Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claims that she was sexually harassed by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio on December 8, 2023. However, merely a day later, on December 9, 2023, she publicly posted favourable messages about the Senate President on both her Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts. In these posts, she eulogized the Senate President and spoke highly of the birthday event she attended in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.”
The post, according to the legal luminary, goes thus, “Great hearts are born in December (argue with your keypad)…geniuses on the 9th… Don’t play!!!!
“So today got @senator_akpabio, Senator Jaribe and my humble self celebrating our birthdays but I joined my Senate President to mark his at the serene Akwa Ibom state.
Agbakoba argued that, “The warm celebratory tone and personal affection expressed in this public message posted just one day after the alleged harassment presents a significant timeline contradiction that cannot be overlooked. The juxtaposition of these two events, an alleged traumatic harassment followed by voluntary, public expressions of admiration requires careful consideration.”
The former NBA President also mentioned previous allegations against Reno Omokri and an unnamed minister, noting that, though each allegation must be evaluated independently, the suspended Senator’s pattern required careful consideration.
“Sexual harassment is a serious matter that deserves careful and fair consideration. We acknowledge the difficulty faced by anyone making such allegations and the importance of treating all parties with dignity.
“Our review of the available public records reveals significant contradictions that must be considered for a fair evaluation of the situation.
“We believe that proper institutional processes, rather than media forums provide the appropriate venue for addressing such serious matters,” Agbakoba said.
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