The allegation Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan levelled against Senate President Goodwill Akpabio must be investigated, Amnesty International has said.
The human rights watchdog made this demand in a statement on X by the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi.
“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,” he said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker representing Kogi Central, accused Akpabio of depriving her of her right to represent her people after she rejected sexual advances from Akpabio.
Although Akpabio since denied the allegations, the Senate later went on to suspend the lawmaker over what it described as her “unruly conduct.”
“The weight and scale of the allegations of the sexual harassment are one more pressing reason for establishing an independent, resourceful and impartial investigation.
“The National Assembly must not continue to look away while the allegations remain and are being trivialized, unaddressed and ignored.
“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.
“This is one case that the authorities can use to show that there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment – no matter who is involved.
“The fear of not being believed, or even being blamed, is already creating a dangerous culture of silence that prevents women who faced sexual harassment from seeking justice. The tide of sexual impunity against women and girls must be turned now,” Sanusi stated.
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