Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, has described the sexual harassment allegation made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio as “riddled with contradictions” and insufficient to meet the legal threshold required to substantiate such claims.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, Agbakoba, who is also representing Akpabio in the matter, said while the right to speak out must be respected, the principles of justice demand fairness, due process and credible evidence.

He noted that the allegation, as it currently stands, “falls short of the threshold for proving sexual harassment anywhere in the world.”

In a formal letter addressed to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on behalf of the Senate President, Agbakoba asked the suspended lawmaker to clarify what he called “significant contradictions” in her widely publicised account. The letter noted that the allegations had already been reported extensively across local and international media, allegedly causing reputational harm to Akpabio.

“This widespread coverage has damaged our client’s reputation locally and internationally,” the letter read. “We are happy to allow you a reasonable time to clarify the contradictions that we have referred, while our client reserves the right to all legal options.”

Citing a timeline of events, Agbakoba pointed to what he described as a critical inconsistency. He noted that while the suspended Senator claimed the harassment took place on 8 December 2023, she made favourable public remarks about the Senate President the very next day.

“Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claims that she was sexually harassed by the Senate President on 8 December 2023,” Agbakoba said. “However, merely one day later, on 9 December, she publicly posted celebratory messages on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), in which she praised the Senate President and expressed admiration for the birthday event she attended in Uyo.”

According to Agbakoba, “The juxtaposition of an alleged traumatic experience with warm, voluntary expressions of admiration raises serious questions that must be addressed for any fair appraisal of the matter.”

He further referred to earlier unproven allegations made by the same lawmaker against other public figures, including a former presidential aide and a minister, suggesting that the broader pattern should be examined carefully—though he maintained that each case must be judged on its own merit.

“Sexual harassment is a grave issue that must be treated with care and fairness,” Agbakoba said. “While we acknowledge the courage it takes to come forward, we must also uphold due process, protect reputations, and rely on institutional mechanisms rather than media platforms for resolution.”

He concluded that all parties deserved dignity and fairness, calling for the matter to be handled through formal legal or institutional channels rather than public commentary.