“Provide Evidence Akpabio Sexually Harassed You” – Deji Adeyanju Tells Natasha Akpoti

• Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of inappropriate advances, leading to a Senate Committee recommendation for a six-month suspension, which was approved.

Human rights attorney and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has urged Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegations of sexual assault against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

It is important to note that Akpoti-Uduaghan recently accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances during a visit to his home in December 2023. In response to these claims, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions evaluated her actions and recommended a six-month suspension, which was subsequently approved by the Senate.

This suspension entails several additional consequences: her Senate office will be closed, her salaries and allowances will be withheld, her security detail will be removed, she will be prohibited from official representation, and she will be barred from entering the National Assembly premises throughout the duration of the suspension.

In a statement made on Friday, Adeyanju remarked that the situation involving Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio has been excessively scrutinized.

He highlighted the lack of public outrage when lawmakers engaged in the distribution of vehicles, funds, and budget allocations within the National Assembly.

He said, “The matter has been overflogged. I believe that parties should go to court and resolve their matters. And we should focus on Nigeria’s tax reform bill and see how we can galvanize and stop the tax reform bill from being passed is more important than this international issue.”

He also questioned why the same senators currently embroiled in this dispute did not voice opposition to the detrimental policies of the current administration.

Adeyanju said, “The question I have asked is: when all these anti-people policies of the Tinubu government were taking place, why didn’t these senators who are now fighting over the allegation of sexual harassment, the allegation of “oh, she’s embarrassing the Senate,” the culture of silence, and everything oppose the anti-people policies?

“All the time that they’ve shared cars in the National Assembly, we did not hear any fight. The time they’ve shared money and budgetary allocations, we did not hear any fight. Now, we are hearing a fight.

“I also sincerely feel that Senator Natasha has made these allegations that the Senate President tried to sexually harass her. I also think that Senator Natasha should, as a matter of necessity, since they have refused to give her a fair hearing in the Senate, make public credible evidence to back up the claim.

“It’s very easy. The man has said it is a lie. “I did not do anything to her.” So if there are messages — maybe “oh, please come over, so so so”— please reveal them, expose the man. After all, he who alleges must prove. Why are you protecting the man?”