In a dramatic turn of events at the National Assembly, renowned human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has urged Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative of Kogi Central, to present irrefutable evidence backing her explosive allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan recently made headlines after accusing Akpabio of inappropriate advances during a visit to his residence in December 2023.
However, in a swift response, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions investigated her conduct and handed down a heavy six-month suspension, which was swiftly approved by the Senate. The punishment extends beyond mere suspension her Senate office has been sealed, salaries and allowances halted, security details withdrawn, and she is now barred from stepping foot inside the National Assembly.
While addressing journalists on the 14th of March, 2025, Adeyanju dismissed the controversy as overflogged and called for legal action rather than prolonged public debate.
He emphasized that Nigeria faces more pressing issues, particularly the contentious Tax Reform Bill, which could deal a severe blow to low- and middle-income earners.
His words carried a sharp critique of the Senate’s priorities, pointing out that lawmakers remained silent when it came to approving luxury cars, hefty budgetary allocations, and other benefits but were now locked in a heated battle over these allegations.
“The matter has been overflogged,” Adeyanju stated bluntly. “I believe that parties should go to court and resolve their matters. And we should focus on Nigeria’s tax reform bill and see how we can galvanize and stop the tax reform bill from being passed—it is more important than this international issue.”
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He further challenged the hypocrisy of senators who, according to him, failed to resist the anti-people policies of the Tinubu administration yet now engage in public disputes over issues of personal allegations.
“All the time that they’ve shared cars in the National Assembly, we did not hear any fight. The time they’ve shared money and budgetary allocations, we did not hear any fight. Now, we are hearing a fight,” he remarked.
On Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims, Adeyanju was clear if she has credible proof, she must bring it forward.
“She has made these allegations that the Senate President tried to sexually harass her. Since they have refused to give her a fair hearing in the Senate, she should make public credible evidence to back up the claim. It’s very easy. The man has said it is a lie. ‘I did not do anything to her.’ So if there are messages maybe ‘oh, please come over, so so so’ please reveal them, expose the man.
After all, he who alleges must prove. Why are you protecting the man?”
As this saga unfolds, all eyes remain on Akpoti-Uduaghan to see if she will heed Adeyanju’s call and produce the proof that could shake the Senate to its core.