Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan ([/b]PDP, Kogi Central) has declared that she is fully prepared and determined to prove her sexual harassment allegations against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, before a court of law.
According to the lawmaker, the ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Akpabio has finally created the opportunity she believes was denied her at the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee, where she said she was unable to properly present her claims and supporting evidence.
Natasha explained that the ongoing legal action has now shifted the matter from internal Senate processes to a neutral judicial setting, which she described as the appropriate platform to objectively examine the facts and allow justice to take its full course.
In a detailed statement, the Kogi Central senator said the court case provides the long-awaited avenue to thoroughly establish her allegations, insisting that she has evidence to support her claims of sexual harassment.
She further alleged that her refusal to succumb to the Senate President’s alleged sexual advances resulted in sustained political pressure, targeted attacks, and deliberate attempts to damage her political career and personal reputation.
“See you in court, Godswill Akpabio,” she boldly declared, maintaining that she is ready to defend her claims and reputation before the law and the Nigerian public.
It would be recalled that the Senate President had earlier instituted a ₦200 billion lawsuit against Senator Natasha, accusing her of making false and damaging allegations that portrayed him as a sexual predator and harmed his public image.
Court documents obtained from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory reveal that Akpabio is seeking massive monetary damages, public retractions of the alleged statements, and nationwide broadcast apologies, arguing that her comments exposed him to ridicule, hatred, and public disrepute.
The suit, which is supported by a comprehensive Statement of Claim and a list of proposed witnesses, alleges that interviews granted by Senator Natasha on radio, television, and various digital platforms falsely depicted him as someone who abused his office for personal and immoral gain.
As the legal showdown unfolds, the dispute between the two senior lawmakers is now firmly headed for the courtroom, with both parties expressing readiness to present their accounts, defend their reputations, and allow the judiciary to determine the truth of the allegations in line with Nigerian law.