Natasha refuses Agbakoba’s request to agreement off the pitch with Akpabio

On Tuesday, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Auduaghan rejected an agreement off the pitch proposed by the legal luminary, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (San), councilor of the president of the Senate Godswill Akpabio.

AGBAKOBA had suggested a resolution in the case of Natasha Akpoti-Auduaghan against Akpabio.

He also urged her to confirm her accusations.

But Kogi’s central senator rejected the idea, insisting on the fact that Akpabio should undergo an investigation.

When asked if he would have accepted to settle for Akpabio, Senator Akpoti-Unduaghan said to the nation: “Inauguration off the pitch? To establish how? Who? And how do I feel? I can’t explain it.

“For me, I’m not looking for an off -field settlement. I don’t think I’m looking for an off -field settlement for today. Starting now, an off -field agreement is out of the head.

“I am not considering an agreement off the pitch because nobody has to suffer this amount of intimidation only because he is talking about his truth.

“They should have investigated. It is not a settlement. It is justice. It is very painful that someone undergoes so much.

“I can’t wait for an officer agreement. He should undergo an investigation.

“Furthermore, Akpabio is massing the image of the president. Akpabio’s actions are sending a negative signal on the government of President Tinubu.”

Agbakoba had asked that the senator should offer more evidence as he promised to do in his interviews with the media.

He had told Journalists in Lagos that the accusations hung without substantial evidence.

He said: “We ask Senator Natasha to provide further evidence, in particular in support of the fact that previously he declared that he reserves the right to provide further details and evidence in support of the accusations against the President of the Senate.

“We feel like the accusation as it is currently in less than the threshold for showing sexual harassment anywhere in the world”.

Agbakaba, who had written to Natasha Akpoti-Auduaghan as a consultant for Akpabio to provide more tests, said he accepted the brief in a conciliatory way.

He said he also honestly wanted that the question had been resolved without going to court, adding that he had requested a meeting with the lawyers of Mrs. Akpoti-Auduaghan.

Agbakaba clarified that in this phase, the senator should not be believed or not believed, stressing that he should have clarified the difference between his behavior between 8 and 9 December 2023.

The San described sexual harassment as a serious question that deserved careful and equitable consideration, adding that the difficulty faced by anyone who has made the accusation and the importance of treating all the parties with dignity should be recognized.

However, the lawyer Senior said that the revision of the available public registers showed significant contradictions that must be considered for a fair evaluation of the situation.

According to him, adequate institutional processes, rather than media forums, should provide an appropriate location to face serious issues.

Agbakoba had insisted on the fact that while supporting a society in which individuals felt sure to speak, the principles of justice that required evidence and equity had to be supported.

He underlined: “The accusations, however serious, must be examined with diligence and care to avoid situations in which they are armed for revenge.

“Our legal system is based on the presumption of innocence up to demonstration of guilt, and this fundamental principle must be respected, even in sensitive cases.”

Noting that Natasha Akpoti-Usuaghan had said that he would present material evidence and present further details and facts, had expressed surprise that he had held the evidence.

The former association of Nigerian lawyers (NBA) said that this was unusual.

Agbakoba had noticed that the local and international commitments of Natasha Akpoti-Usuaghan had highlighted the global attention that his accusations had collected in recent weeks.

Underlining the contradictions between his statements and the subsequent behavior, he said that Natasha Akpoti-Auduaghan who made a serious accusation turned to his Instagram to praise Akpabio and spoke a lot about the birthday event in which he participated in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

He stressed that while Natasha Akpoti-Auduaghan said that sexual harassment occurred on December 8, that it was his birthday and that of Akpabio, he praised the president of the Senate on 9 December.

The lawyer had stressed: “The temporal sequence and the dates are so contradictory. On the one hand, you complained about sexual harassment on December 8, 2023.

“Yet, on the other, you praised Senator Akpabio who sexually harassed you on 9 December 2023.

“The juxtaposition of these two events, an alleged traumatic harassment followed by a voluntary public expression of admiration requires careful consideration.” [The Nation]

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