Victor EzejaLegal expert, Dr Stephen Nwala, has said the outcome of the ongoing controversy between Nigeria’s Senate President, Godwill Akpabio and Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over sexual harassment allegations would add to Nigeria’s jurisprudence, shaping the legal system and guiding future judicial decisions in that aspect.
Dr Nwala, who is President of the Forum of South-east Academic Doctors (FOSAD), said the case is an interesting one since both Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio are lawyers.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“l am really happy that both Natasha and Akpabio are Lawyers. The outcome of the legal run would definitely add to Nigeria’s jurisprudence,” Nwala stated.
The controversy between the senate president and the Kogi senator has generated nationwide reactions.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had during an interview with Arise News Television on 28 February, accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.
She alleged that the senate president had on different occasions made inappropriate advances on her.
READ ALSO: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Accuses Akpabio Of Sexual Advances, Victimisation
The lawmaker alleged that Akpabio had denied her some privileges and an opportunity to move some motions to address the critical needs of her constituents, implying she should “take care” of him if she wanted favourable treatment in the red chamber.
She subsequently tendered a formal petition on the matter to the Senate. Thereafter, the Senate suspended her for six months on the grounds of gross misconduct on the floor of the red chamber.
Akpabio denied the allegations, saying they only emerged after a reshuffle of seating arrangements and committee reassignments in the upper chamber, which Akpoti-Uduaghan was not pleased with.
The case is currently in court.
Nwala posited that being lawyers, Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan know what is obtainable in court, that whoever alleges must prove beyond reasonable doubts and that nonvalid evidence or failure to prove the allegations have consequences through which the accused can seek redress.
He urged the authorities to commence investigations into the claims and kick off the legal proceedings.
The legal expert made reference to the sexual scandal between former United States President, Bill Clinton, and Monica Lewinsky, who was an intern at the White House between 1995 and 1997. Clinton, who initially gave testimony denying having an affair with Lewinsky, later admitted following overwhelming evidence.
