Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanjuji, has challenged Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide evidence of sexual assault allegation against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan recently accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances during a visit to his residence in December 2023. Following these allegations, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions reviewed her conduct and recommended a six-month suspension, which the Senate approved.

The suspension includes additional penalties: her Senate office will be locked, salaries and allowances withheld, security details withdrawn, prohibition from official representation, and restriction from entering the National Assembly premises during the suspension.

Speaking on Friday, Adeyanju noted that the controversy surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio has been overflogged.

He pointed out that there was no public outcry when lawmakers shared cars, money, and budgetary allocations in the National Assembly.

He said, “The matter has been overflogged. 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 is more important than this international issue.”

He questioned why the same senators now engaging in this dispute did not oppose anti-people policies of the current administration.

Adeyanju said, “The question I have asked is: when all these anti-people policies of the Tinubu government were taking place, why didn’t these senators who are now fighting over the allegation of sexual harassment, the allegation of “oh, she’s embarrassing the Senate,” the culture of silence, and everything oppose the anti-people policies?