The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has insisted on pursuing the sexual harassment suit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to its logical conclusion.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rejoinder comes after public interventions by Agbakoba, who asserted that Akpoti-Uduaghan had ignored two letters demanding a retraction of her allegations. She vehemently denied receiving such letters, clarifying her position in the light of ongoing legal proceedings.

Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasised that the matter is currently subjudice with two cases before the courts of competent jurisdiction. The first, marked Suit No. CV/816/25, involves allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, while the second, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, challenges the legality of her six-month suspension from the Senate. 

Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed that her silence on the matter was due to the doctrine of lis pendens, which mandates that issues under active litigation should not be commented upon outside the courtroom.

The senator also addressed the procedural inconsistencies in the Senate’s handling of her suspension, citing breaches of natural justice, including denying a fair hearing. She criticised the Senate’s failure to respect a valid court order, which, she claims, led to her unlawful suspension and the deprivation of her right to represent her constituents.

Akpoti-Uduaghan refuted claims made by Agbakoba regarding contradictions in the timeline of her actions, explaining that outward civility should not be mistaken for an admission of no wrongdoing. 

She reaffirmed that the alleged sexual harassment occurred within the hierarchical and gender-imbalanced environment of the Senate, which, she argued, had made it difficult for her to raise the issue through formal channels.

The senator also addressed Agbakoba’s demands for proof of her allegations, noting that the matter was currently before the court and any evidence would be submitted in accordance with proper legal procedures. 

She cautioned against attempts to subvert the judicial process by bypassing the courts, urging Agbakoba to advise his client on the constitutional and reputational risks associated with the ongoing matter.

Akpoti-Uduaghan reiterated her commitment to seeking redress through both local and international legal avenues, maintaining that she would not be silenced or coerced into retracting her complaint. 

She also called for greater attention to the issue of women’s representation in the Senate, which, she argued, had been further undermined by her suspension.