Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has firmly declined an out-of-court settlement proposed by Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), legal counsel to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in response to sexual harassment allegations made against the Senate President.
Speaking to The Nation, the Kogi Central Senator expressed her unwillingness to entertain any form of negotiated settlement, insisting instead on a full investigation into the matter.
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“Out-of-court settlement? To settle how? With who? What about how I felt? As of now, that’s completely off the table,“This is not about settlement; it’s about justice. No one should endure this level of intimidation for speaking their truth. He must be investigated.” -Akpoti-Uduaghan said.
She further criticized Akpabio’s actions, stating they were damaging the image of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Meanwhile, Dr. Agbakoba, in a press briefing in Lagos, urged the Senator to provide further evidence to support her claims. He noted that despite previously indicating she would present additional material, such evidence has yet to be submitted.
“We request Senator Natasha to provide more evidence,” Agbakoba stated. “As it stands, the allegations fall short of the legal threshold required to substantiate claims of sexual harassment.”
Agbakoba explained that his approach was conciliatory and that he had reached out to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team in hopes of a resolution outside court proceedings.
However, he emphasized the need for clarity regarding inconsistencies in the Senator’s narrative, particularly her social media posts praising Akpabio shortly after the alleged incident.
According to the senior lawyer, the timeline raises important questions: “She alleges harassment on December 8, yet on December 9, she publicly praised Senator Akpabio. This juxtaposition must be carefully reviewed.”
While acknowledging the sensitive nature of harassment allegations, Agbakoba stressed the importance of due process and evidence-based evaluation.
“Our legal system is built on the presumption of innocence. Allegations must be scrutinized to avoid being used for personal vendettas,” he added.
He also cautioned against relying solely on social media narratives, noting that “98% of what circulates online is not admissible in court.”
Agbakoba concluded by reaffirming that harassment can manifest in both words and actions, but insisted that all claims must be backed by verifiable facts to uphold justice for all parties involved.
