Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of evading opportunities to clear his name over sexual harassment allegations made by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Ezekwesili claimed that Akpabio and the Senate have continually denied Akpoti-Uduaghan the right to a fair hearing and an impartial investigation into the accusations.
The suspended senator had accused Akpabio of sexually harassing her, alleging that he retaliated against her for rejecting his advances in the presence of her husband.
Taking to social media, Ezekwesili expressed her concern over what she described as “obstruction” by Akpabio in the investigation.
She questioned why Akpabio was resisting every opportunity for a transparent inquiry into the serious allegations against him, suggesting that his actions were preventing him from proving his innocence.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ezekwesili wrote: “Can the @NGRSenate and @Senator_Akpabio tell Nigerians why they have persisted in denying their courageous colleague, Senator @NatashaAkpoti, the right to fair hearing and impartial investigation of her Sexual Harassment petition against the Senate President?”
She continued, “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?”
Ezekwesili also questioned why other members of the Senate were supporting the obstruction of the investigation, accusing them of violating Senate rules.
She referred to the Senate’s actions in suspending Akpoti-Uduaghan as “illegal” and highlighted what she saw as a failure to uphold accountability.
“The Senate cannot pretend to be ‘moving on’ regarding this case, This Injustice cannot be sustained at all. There’s no ‘moving on’ possible without accountability, transparency and due process on this case of massive abuse of power by our country’s #3 top ranking public figure,” Ezekwesili wrote.
Ezekwesili concluded by assuring Akpoti-Uduaghan that she was not alone in the fight for justice: “Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan is never walking alone on this case. Never.”
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