….insist burden of proof rests on Senator Natasha
Legal practitioners, on Friday, demanded an urgent probe of the allegation of sexual harassment that was raised against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio by the female lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In separate interviews with Vanguard, the lawyers, described as weighty and grave, the female lawmaker’s claim that she was being victimised for refusing sexual advances from the Senate President.
Warning that the matter should not be swept under the carpet, the legal practitioners however maintained that the law placed the burden of prove on the Kogi state lawmaker.
According to Chief Chukwuma Nwachukwu, who is an Abuja based human rights lawyer: “It will be in the interest of legislative sanctity for this issue not to be swept under the carpet as is usual in our political theater.
“Matters of sexual harassment against women is taken very seriously in all civilised climes especially in view of the fact that women are a vulnerable species and deserves to be afforded all available legal and institutional protections.
“In the instant case, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has made a very grave allegation against the head of the legislative arm of Government in Nigeria, Senator God’s will Akpabio but she has an onerous burden to prove it as we hold it trite in law that he who alleges must prove.
“So, the Female Senator must discharge this burden which the law has placed on her and I assure you that these are interesting times for the Senate of the Federal Republic nay the National Assembly.
“If eventually found true, the Auguean stable must be cleansed. Institutional safeguards must be emplaced to ensure that matters as this do not have any space in our legislative system.”
Another lawyer, Mr. Albert Effiong, said: “The allegation by Senator Natasha is a very serious one. It is important for the Federal Government to immediately constitute an independent investigative panel to look into the matter. In doing so, the Senator, who has alleged, must be afforded the opportunity to produce her evidence as required by law. He or she who allege must prove.
“Since the Senator Akpabio is the head of the Senate, it will not be appropriate for the Senate to conduct the probe. However, if the Senate must carryout the investigation, then, Senator Akpabio must temporarily step down to make room for an objective probe. It is elementary law that one cannot be a judge in his own case.
“It is unfortunate and very embarrassing that both the accused and the accuser are very senior legal practitioners,” Effiong added.
On his part, Mr. Obeta Williams, said: “If indeed the allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate President is true, I believe that Senator Natasha, being a legal practitioner, knows what to do.
“To me, going to the media to raise such weighty allegation was wrong. I believe that there are internal mechanism she could have explored. She could have forwarded a petition to appropriate authorities.
“This issue has not only rubbed ash on our apex lawmaking body, it has brought a national shame as Nigeria is currently trending for a negative reason.”
