Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has firmly rejected an out-of-court settlement proposed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, counsel to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, regarding the allegations she made against him.
Speaking to The Nation, the Kogi Central senator said she was not interested in any form of settlement and instead insisted that Akpabio should subject himself to a thorough investigation.
“Out-of-court settlement? To settle how? Who? What about how I felt?” she asked. “It is not about settlement, it is about justice.”
The senator, who had earlier accused the Senate President of sexual harassment, said accepting a settlement would undermine her pursuit of justice and the trauma she claims to have endured. She emphasised that her stance was rooted in the need for accountability, not negotiation.
In a press briefing in Lagos, Dr. Agbakoba urged the senator to provide more evidence to back her claims, stating that her allegations as they stand “fall short of the threshold for proving sexual harassment anywhere in the world.” He said the allegations contain contradictions that must be addressed in a fair and institutional manner.
Agbakoba added that he had written to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, requesting more substantial evidence and proposed a conciliatory meeting with her legal team to resolve the matter amicably.
“Sexual harassment is a serious matter,” the SAN stated. “But allegations, however grave, must be scrutinised with diligence to avoid them being weaponised.”
He further pointed to inconsistencies in the timeline, noting that while the senator claimed harassment occurred on December 8, 2023, she was seen publicly praising Akpabio at his birthday celebration the following day.
Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, stressed that the legal system requires evidence, fairness, and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. He added that public opinion and social media sentiments should not override due process.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has remained resolute, maintaining that no one should suffer the level of intimidation she claims to have faced for speaking out. “They should have investigated it,” she said. “Akpabio is denting the image of the President.”
The matter continues to attract public interest amid growing calls for transparency and institutional accountability in handling sensitive allegations within Nigeria’s political space.