Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has told Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) that he is not a court of law to demand from her the evidence of her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
She reaffirmed her sexual harassment allegations against the Senate President, while sharply criticizing his legal team led by Agbakoba for using media commentary to distort the course of ongoing judicial proceedings.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s response, which is contained in a letter dated April 30 and addressed to Dr. Agbakoba, came after a televised remarks the senior lawyer made on Channels TV’s Politics Today on April 15 and again on April 29, where he accused Senator Natasha of ignoring two letters dated April 14 and 22 that demanded a retraction of her claims.
“No such letters have ever been served on me by post, courier, or personal delivery,” the Senator clarified.
She added that her previous silence was out of “studious restraint,” guided by legal advice and in deference to the principle of lis pendes—the doctrine that discourages public commentary on matters already before the courts.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is the plaintiff in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, where she is challenging her suspension from the Senate on grounds of denial of fair hearing.
She is also the defendant in Suit No. CV/816/2025, filed by Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate President, who is seeking N250 billion in damages for alleged defamation arising from the harassment claims.
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Akpoti-Uduaghan said: “While I accord you the utmost professional respect, it bears repeating that a private legal practitioner, however distinguished, is not vested with adjudicatory authority under the Constitution or any statute of the Federal Republic.
“Your demands that I substantiate my allegations to you, outside the pleadings already before the High Court of the FCT on this same complaint by your client’s spouse, lack legal vires.
“The assessment of evidence belongs to the courts alone. The nature of your demand for evidence in this manner, at the instance of your client, simply indicates a broader misconception of what truly amounts to sexual harassment as prescribed in several global protocols.
“It underscores a narrow perspective of the nature of this global menace. It is in my respectful opinion that this is another attempt by your client to play to the gallery and relegate this matter yet again to the backwaters.”