Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called on the Nigerian Senate and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to thoroughly investigate the sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the group said the time has come for the truth to be established — not just for the sake of those involved, but for the integrity of Nigeria’s institutions and its global image.
Senator Natasha, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended from the Senate for six months over what was described as a breach of the Senate’s rules. Her suspension followed a public accusation she made against Senate President Akpabio, alleging sexual harassment.
Following the expiration of her suspension, Senator Natasha has returned to the Red Chamber to resume her legislative duties. However, Afenifere said her return should not signal the end of the matter.
“We, at Afenifere, received the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s resolve to end a six-month suspension it placed on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over a proven breach of its Rules of Procedure with mixed feelings,” the group said.
“For us, restoring her does not mean we should put all her claims behind us without subjecting them to judicial interpretation,” the statement added.
Afenifere stressed that the Senate, the AGF, and relevant security agencies must examine the issue thoroughly to determine whether the allegations made against Akpabio were true or false.
The group argued that truth and justice must not be sacrificed for political convenience, especially when the allegations have attracted global attention.
“It is in the interest of fairness, justice, and national integrity that the truth of the matter is uncovered. We must not forget that international media outlets and even foreign parliaments have taken note of this issue. Nigeria cannot afford to look the other way,” the group warned.
Afenifere said the matter goes beyond individual reputations, stressing that how Nigeria handles such sensitive allegations will reflect the country’s commitment to rule of law and accountability.
This is not the first time Afenifere has weighed in on the issue. Shortly after Senator Natasha’s suspension earlier this year, the group had called for an independent probe to establish the facts.
Now that she has returned to her seat in the Senate, Afenifere insists that justice must take its full course and that political immunity or influence must not stand in the way of truth.
The group concluded by urging the leadership of the National Assembly and the AGF to ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet.
“Nigerians are watching. The world is watching. We cannot be a country that punishes people for speaking up while failing to investigate the allegations they make,” Afenifere said.
