Former Minister of Education and human rights activist, Oby Ezekwesili, has accused the President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, of evading accountability regarding sexual harassment allegations made against him by the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan recently accused Akpabio of sexually harassing her and subsequently denying her certain Senate privileges after she rejected his advances, even in the presence of her husband.
Speaking days after visiting the Senate, Ezekwesili condemned the Senate leadership, alleging that Akpabio and his colleagues have deprived Akpoti-Uduaghan of the right to a fair hearing and an impartial investigation, despite persistent calls for justice.
Taking to her X handle on Monday, Ezekwesili questioned Akpabio’s resistance to conducting an independent inquiry into the allegations, saying, “Why is Senator Akpabio obstructing every opportunity for an impartial Senate inquiry into this matter? Why is he dodging the opportunity that can help him prove his innocence of the serious allegation leveled by his female colleague?”
She further criticised Akpabio’s fellow senators for enabling the obstruction rather than upholding due process. “Why are Senator Akpabio’s colleagues in the Senate supporting such obstruction in gross violation of the same ‘Senate Rules’ they used in illegally suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan?” Ezekwesili asked.
The former minister emphasised that the issue would not be swept under the rug without ensuring accountability, transparency, and adherence to due process.
“Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan is never walking alone on this case. Never,” Ezekwesili affirmed.
