Taoreed Abdullahi
Renowned lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, has sent a second letter to the suspended senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, demanding a retraction of what he called her “clearly false and unsubstantiated” sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Dr. Agbakoba stated that this latest letter was necessary because Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had failed to clarify the significant contradictions in her allegations against Senator Akpabio, as requested in his initial letter dated April 14, 2025.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, Dr. Agbakoba, who is also the lawyer for the Senate President, highlighted that instead of addressing the contradictions surrounding her claim that Senator Akpabio sexually harassed her on December 8, 2023, and her subsequent exaltation of him on her social media accounts on December 9, 2023, she chose to delete her social media post.
In the letter signed by Olisa Agbakoba Legal, dated April 22, 2025, Dr Agbakoba reiterated, “In our first letter to you, dated April 14, 2025, we requested that you clarify the contradictions in your sexual harassment allegation against our client, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Notably, we have highlighted the contradiction regarding the timeline of events.”
Dr Agbakoba added, “You have failed to clarify your sexual harassment allegation made on December 8, 2023, while at the same time exalting Senator Akpabio on your social media accounts (Instagram and X/Twitter) on December 9, 2023—the day after you claimed he sexually harassed you. Instead of clarifying this contradiction, you deleted the social media post, which raises serious concerns for us.”
He emphasized that regardless of what is said about Senator Akpabio, the responsibility to prove the allegations lies with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In addition to requesting clarification of the contradictions, Akpabio’s lawyers also sought an explanation for the lengthy delay in her making the sexual harassment claim. Dr. Agbakoba pointed out, “You allege that the sexual harassment occurred on December 8, 2023, but you did not make your allegation until February 28, 2025—one year and two months later.”
He further mentioned, “Moreover, instead of addressing this serious allegation from December 8, 2023, you were seen throughout 2024 at various legislative and non-legislative events, both locally and internationally, alongside Senator Akpabio, your alleged harasser. For instance, you were spotted with him at the Inter-Parliamentary Union session in Geneva on March 24 and 25, 2024. In fact, you took several selfies and group photos together during these events.”
Dr Agbakoba continued, “You shared these moments on your social media platforms with warm captions. We find these discrepancies contradictory and unbelievable.”
“In light of this, and given that you have also failed to address the inconsistencies pointed out in our first letter, we demand that you retract your sexual harassment allegations against our client, as they are clearly false and unsubstantiated,” Dr Agbakoba concluded.