By Friday Omosola and Helen Okechuckwu
It has been days now since senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio dominated the news over allegations of sexual harassment.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the opposition Social Democratic Party (PDP), alleged during an interview on Arise Television that Akpabio sexually harassed her.
During the interview, she recounted an incident on December 8,2023, when she and her husband visited Mr Akpabio’s residence in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State capital.
She claimed that the Senate President held her hand, showed her around his house, and made inappropriate advances toward her, even in her husband’s presence.
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The allegation has sparked widespread mixed reactions from many Nigerians. While some commentators have called for Mr Akpabio’s prosecution, others believe Natasha’s claims lacked merit.
Speaking exclusively to The New Daily Prime, a legal expert, Ridwan Oke, Principal Partner at Iris Attorneys LP, emphasised the need for a thorough investigation.
He noted that no stone must be left unturned in the matter, noting that the allegation must be examined on its merits, regardless of Mr Akpabio’s and Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s status.
“Anyone found culpable must be relieved of their positions, tried in a court, convicted and punished under our law. There should be a policy to protect whistleblowers and most importantly, victims should be adequately supported,” he said.
Mr Oke added that any allegations presented before the court would be examined based on evidence.
He noted that if found to be false, the accuser would be prosecuted and held accountable under the law.
“Each case must be treated individually as it arises,” Mr Oke stated, emphasising that while the defence may present various arguments, what ultimately matters is whether the prosecution has established an offence based on the evidence before the court.
He added, “Character evidence is admissible in Nigerian courts but is highly regulated. Sections 78- 82 of the Evidence Act regulates the admissibility of character evidence and it is generally inadmissible unless relevant to the case in issue.”
Furthermore, he emphasised the consequences of false accusations, noting that victims have the right to file defamation suits and pursue perjury charges, which carry a penalty of up to 14 years in prison under Nigerian law.
“Sexual harassment: Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria protects the dignity of the human person, sections 281 and 285 of the penal code and section 46 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act which prohibits sexual harassment in Nigeria
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“The senator alleged that she was unable to fulfil her duties as a senator as the Senate president was hindering her bills and motions. Hence, she couldn’t represent her consistency as expected. This is against the spirit of the constitution
“It puts into check the effectiveness of our institution in taming sexual harassment. Allegations should be handled. Every institution in Nigeria should have a sexual harassment policy and an open door policy to encourage people to make reports.”
According to him, allegations impact both parties, but under Nigeria’s current system, the accuser has more to lose.
“This is because we have not yet fully implemented our laws to ensure their protection.”
Mr Oke noted that politicians who are wrongly accused should seek legal redress to deter others from making false allegations.
