Afenifere Calls For Probe Into Natasha’s Claims Against Akpabio

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere has urged the Federal Government to investigate the sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The call comes after the Senate lifted Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension, allowing her to resume legislative duties.

Afenifere said the senator’s recall was a welcome step toward upholding the rule of law but maintained that it should not overshadow the need to address the substance of her accusations. The group stressed that uncovering the truth was necessary for public trust and accountability.

The organisation also questioned the absence of concrete evidence months after the allegations were first made. It called on the police, the Department of State Services, and the National Intelligence Agency to open a thorough investigation.

Afenifere drew attention to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s past claims against former presidential aide Reno Omokri, which ended in an out-of-court settlement, suggesting that her credibility should also be examined. It further criticised her decision to take the matter to international media outlets such as BBC, CNN, Sky News, and Deutsche Welle, arguing that the move cast Nigeria in a poor light abroad.

The group raised another concern over her participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in New York, questioning whether she had proper authorisation to attend and warning against any manipulation of public institutions for personal gain.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 after a heated session in the Senate and a petition she filed accusing Akpabio of harassment. The Senate’s Ethics Committee dismissed her petition on procedural grounds, and despite a court order halting disciplinary measures, the chamber enforced her suspension, which stripped her of pay and privileges.

She challenged the suspension in court, maintaining that it was linked to her allegations against the Senate President. The case drew international attention after she gave interviews to foreign media outlets, sparking debate on gender, politics, and accountability in Nigeria.

Akpoti-Uduaghan returned to the Senate on October 7 after completing her suspension, immediately describing Akpabio as a dictator. Her remark was swiftly rejected by Akpabio’s media aide, Kenny Okolugbo, who denied the claim.

With Afenifere’s intervention, pressure is now mounting on federal authorities to revisit the controversy and determine whether the senator’s allegations hold weight or collapse under scrutiny.