Akpabio: Agbakoba demands retraction of Natasha’s sexual harassment claim
Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and senior advocate, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, has issued a second formal demand to the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial district, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, urging her to retract sexual harassment allegations she made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
At a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, Agbakoba, who is also Akpabio’s legal counsel, described Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims as “clearly false and unsubstantiated,” citing what he called glaring contradictions and an “unexplained delay” in her accusation timeline.
Agbakoba noted that in a previous letter dated April 14, 2025, his law firm, Olisa Agbakoba Legal (AOL), had asked the Senator to clarify her claim that Akpabio sexually harassed her on December 8, 2023.
He highlighted that just a day later, on December 9, Akpoti-Uduaghan posted what he described as “exalting” remarks about Akpabio on her social media accounts—posts she has since deleted.
“Rather than clarify this contradiction, you deleted the social media post, which to us is extremely concerning,” Agbakoba said.
The legal luminary further questioned why the senator waited until February 28, 2025—over a year after the alleged incident—before making her accusations public.
He said that during the intervening period, Akpoti-Uduaghan had been seen in public with Akpabio at several high-profile national and international events, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in Geneva in March 2024.
“In fact, you took several selfies and group photos with him during these events,” Agbakoba said, noting that the senator shared the images using what he described as “warm tones.”
The latest letter, dated April 22, underscores the legal team’s insistence on either a full retraction or a clarification of the senator’s position, warning that the current claims lack credibility and factual basis.
“We demand that you retract the sexual harassment allegations against our client, as they are clearly false and unsubstantiated,” Agbakoba concluded.
He said: “Additionally, rather than take up this serious allegation that occurred on 8 December 2023, you were seen throughout 2024 at several legislative and non-legislative events (locally and internationally) with Senator Akpabio, your alleged harasser.
“For example, you were seen together at the Inter-Parliamentary Union session in Geneva on the 24th and 25th of March 2024. In fact, you took several selfies and group photos with him during these events.
“All these events were posted in warm tones by you on your social media platforms. Please see screenshot copies of your Facebook post(s) and other photos you took with Senator Akpabio. We find this contradictory and unbelievable.”
“In light of this and having also failed to clarify inconsistencies pointed out in our first letter to you, we demand that you retract sexual harassment allegations against our client as they are clearly false and unsubstantiated
