Amnesty International Nigeria has urged the Nigerian government to launch an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a statement on Saturday, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said the seriousness of the allegations calls for an immediate and impartial probe.
“The National Assembly must not continue to look away while the allegations remain and are being bizarrely trivialized, unaddressed, and ignored,” Sanusi stated.
Sanusi warned that failing to investigate the allegations could encourage a culture of silence and impunity regarding sexual harassment in the country.
“Blatant failure of the authorities to investigate will have devastating consequences, including making it harder for survivors of sexual harassment to get justice while allowing perpetrators to escape punishment,” he said.
He further stated that this case provides an opportunity for Nigerian authorities to prove that sexual harassment will not be tolerated, regardless of the person involved.
Sanusi also noted that many victims of sexual harassment fear coming forward because they worry they will not be believed or may even be blamed.
“The fear of not being believed is already creating a dangerous culture of silence that prevents women who have faced sexual harassment from seeking justice. The tide of sexual impunity against women and girls must be turned now,” he added.
Amnesty International has called on the government to act swiftly and ensure that the investigation is thorough, fair, and free from political influence.
