Suspended Senator from Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has told Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, that she will not provide any evidence of her sexual harassment claims against Senate President Godswill Akpabio outside the courtroom.
In a letter dated April 30, Akpoti-Uduaghan said her petition already reflects “the truth” and will be properly addressed in court. She said Agbakoba’s request for a retraction and evidence was wrong and not in line with how such matters should be handled.
“The assessment of evidence belongs to the courts alone,” she wrote. “Your demand for evidence at this stage shows a lack of understanding of what sexual harassment really means under global standards.”
She accused Agbakoba of trying to pressure her into showing evidence too early, calling it an attempt to interfere with due process. “This is another effort by your client to shift attention and push the case aside,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan made it clear that all documents and proof will only be presented in court. “Any further details will be disclosed in line with court directions,” she added. She warned that trying to bypass the legal process could harm the rule of law.
She also criticised what she called a media campaign possibly led by Agbakoba to discredit her. “You cannot argue a case in court and also in the press at the same time,” she said. “This goes against basic rules that protect the court’s fairness and dignity.”
Earlier, Agbakoba had said her claims lacked evidence and were inconsistent. He asked her to withdraw the allegations against Akpabio, describing them as false and unproven.
With both sides now preparing for a legal battle, the focus shifts to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, where the case will be fully examined.
