Olusegun Ariyo
Amnesty International has called for a thorough investigation into the allegation raised against President of the Senate, Goodwill Akpabio by the Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,
This was contained in a statement on X by the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi.
Recall that Senator Natasha of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, accused Akpabio of depriving her of her right to represent her people after she rejected sexual advances from him.
According to the female senator, Akpabio had been denying her the opportunity to contribute to debates and table matters affecting her constituents on the floor of the Senate.
Although Akpabio has since denied the allegations, the Senate later went on to suspend the lawmaker over what it described as her unruly conduct.
Reacting, the human rights watchdog said the weight and scale of the sexual harassment allegations were one more pressing reason for establishing an independent, resourceful and impartial investigation.
Amnesty International asserted that the National Assembly must not continue to look away while the allegations remain and are being trivialized, unaddressed and ignored.
“Amnesty International calls on the Nigerian authorities to immediately institute an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio.
“Blatant failure of the authorities to investigate the allegations raised by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will have devastating consequences, that include perpetuating a system that makes it increasingly difficult for survivors of sexual harassment to get justice while allowing perpetrators to get away with gross human rights violations,” Sanusi said.
