Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has firmly rejected the prospect of an out-of-court settlement in her sexual harassment suit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, asserting that the matter must be resolved within the judicial system.

In a formal reply to a letter dated April 30, 2025, from Akpabio’s legal counsel, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that her claims are truthful and that further comments would be reserved for the courts, which alone have the jurisdiction to determine the case.

She criticized Agbakoba for allegedly requesting evidence outside the judicial process already initiated at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (Suit No. CV/816/25), where Akpabio’s wife, Unoma, is the complainant.

The assessment of evidence belongs to the courts,” she stated. “Your demand for evidence at your client's behest suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of what constitutes sexual harassment under global protocols. It reflects a narrow view of a serious global issue and, in my opinion, is another attempt to trivialize the matter.

Akpoti-Uduaghan warned that any attempt to circumvent the court process undermines the rule of law, emphasizing that further disclosures would only be made through formal legal channels and in compliance with judicial directives.

She also condemned what she described as a media campaign spearheaded by Agbakoba  allegedly on Akpabio’s behalf  which demanded proof outside the bounds of legal procedure. According to her, this media strategy stands in stark contrast to Akpabio’s own actions, whom she accused of leveraging his Senate position to avoid proper scrutiny.

A litigant cannot seek justice in court while simultaneously litigating in the media,” she said. “The rule against parallel adjudication is essential to preserving judicial integrity, ensuring fair proceedings, and upholding respect for all branches of government.

Responding to criticisms over her December 9, 2023, social media post in which she acknowledged Akpabio at a public event  a day after the alleged incident  as well as photographs from the Inter-Parliamentary Union Session in Geneva (March 24–25, 2024), Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that public decorum does not equate to consent or invalidate her claims.

Outward civility at public events does not imply consent or nullify claims of misconduct,” she explained. “To interpret it otherwise is to minimize the seriousness of sexual harassment, especially when it involves complex power dynamics.

She further denied receiving earlier letters from Agbakoba, stating that her previous silence was guided by legal advice and her respect for the lis pendens doctrine which restricts commentary on matters actively before the courts.

Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that two distinct legal matters are currently before the courts:

  • Suit No. CV/816/25 (Unoma Godswill Akpabio v. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, High Court of the FCT): A defamation and sexual harassment case filed by Akpabio’s wife, seeking ₦250 billion in damages.

  • Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 (Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly & Others, Federal High Court, Abuja): A constitutional challenge to her referral to the Senate Committee on Ethics without a fair hearing, her six-month suspension, and the withdrawal of her entitlements.

She emphasized that only one of the cases directly concerns the sexual harassment allegations, and reiterated that the court  not the media  is the proper forum for resolution.

Meanwhile, during a press briefing held in Lagos on Tuesday, Agbakoba criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan for allegedly failing to address contradictions in her claims  particularly her public praise of Akpabio on December 9, 2023, a day after the alleged incident. He argued that her decision to delete the post instead of clarifying it raised “serious concerns.”

Instead of addressing the contradictions in your allegations, you deleted your social media post, Agbakoba stated in an earlier letter dated April 22, 2025. “This raises serious concerns.