Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has once again weighed in on the sexual harassment allegations levelled against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling for an open and transparent inquiry into the matter.
Ezekwesili, in a statement posted on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, May 10, urged Senate President Akpabio to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions and allow a fair investigation into the claims brought against him by the lawmaker representing Kogi Central.
“Submit yourself to a transparent process of Independent Investigation and Fair Hearing as demanded by your accuser,” Ezekwesili wrote in a direct message to Akpabio via her post. She continued: “Stop all these incompetent shenanigans and surreptitious tactics to divert public attention on the matter. All your actions and words since Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accused you, have been terribly contemptible and demeaning of our Public Institution — The Nigerian Senate. STOP!”
Her latest comments came as controversy continued to trail the case, which saw Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan suspended from the Senate for six months in March after submitting a petition accusing the Senate President of sexual harassment.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Akpabio’s legal team, led by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, asking that Akpoti-Uduaghan be ordered to delete a satirical apology post from her social media pages. The team also requested the court to compel her to publish a written apology in at least two national newspapers and file an affidavit confirming compliance.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan argued in a counter-affidavit that her social media post did not breach the court’s gag order.
The allegations date back to December 8, 2023, when, during an interview with Arise Television in February, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio made sexual advances towards her while she visited his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, accompanied by her husband. She further claimed that on another occasion, Akpabio had hinted she should “take care of him” if she expected her motions to gain favourable attention in the Senate.
Akpabio, however, has firmly denied all the allegations.
