Senate’s failure to probe Natahsa’s sexual harassment claim against Akpabio will have devastating consequences – Amnesty International

Human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has called for an impartial investigation into Senator Natahsa Akpoti-Uduaghan’s sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The human rights organisation in a statement on Saturday said that failure to establish “an independent, resourceful and impartial investigation” into Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations would have devastating consequences.

“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,” Amnesty International said.

According to Amnesty International, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations against Mr Akpabio is one case that the authorities can use to show that there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment – no matter who is involved.

It added, “The National Assembly must not continue to look away while the allegations remain and are being trivialized, unaddressed and ignored.”

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, who the Senate said was suspended for six months over unruly behaviour, accused Mr Akpabio of sexually harassing her, insisting that her suspension was a plot to silence her.

Mr Akpabio has repeatedly denied harassing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan