Lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has butted in on the Natasha and Akpabio sexual harassment kerfuffle. The dauntless activist expressed his disgust over the unlawful manner in which Senator Natasha was suspended from the Senate for six months without compensation.
In a post made on his verified Facebook page, Barrister Adeyanju expressed his concerns over the lingering fracas that has degenerated into the suspension of Natasha, stating that it was a blatant violation of her rights.
Deji expressed his displeasure further with claims that the Senate is obligated to conduct a thorough investigation, even if Natasha’s allegations were to be fallacies made up to cover up for her attitudinal inadequacies in the House of Senate.
Deji Adeyanju wrote:
PUBLIC STATEMENT: Adeyanju condemns suspension of Senator Akpoti describes it as promoting a culture of silence, urges her to seek redress in Court
1. I am deeply saddened over the illegal suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan by the Nigerian Senate. This act is not only a blatant violation of her rights but also an affront to the very foundation of democratic principles and transparency that our nation purports to uphold.
2. Even if the allegations made by Natasha are deemed frivolous, the Senate has an obligation to investigate them thoroughly. Senator Godswill Akpabio, who faces allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate remarks, must be allowed to face the Senate committee. It is imperative that he be given the opportunity to defend himself as well and to cross-examine Senator Natasha. Sweeping these serious allegations under the carpet only serves to perpetuate a culture of silence, and it raises serious questions about the integrity of the Senate’s investigative processes.
3. Furthermore, it is appalling that the chairman of the Ethics Committee, who was publicly defending Akpabio just days before this inquiry, presided over the investigation against Natasha. This is a clear conflict of interest; Akpabio cannot serve as a judge in his own matter. For the sake of justice and fairness, he must step aside to allow the Ethics Committee to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations against him.
4. It is unacceptable that neither Senator Natasha nor Akpabio were allowed to appear before the committee for a proper investigation. This lack of due process mirrors the troubling practices we see in our electoral system, where results are declared in the dead of night without proper scrutiny. The absence of a fair investigation and the rush to conclusions send a dangerous message to our youth, teaching them that accountability and integrity are negotiable.
5. I call on my dear sister and friend, Senator Natasha to challenge her illegal suspension in court. I must also encourage her that her challenges are not new as women who seek change face these challenges daily in the corridors of power and even in religious places of worship. By suspending Natasha for six months, the people of Kogi Central are being denied proper representatio. She must resist the attempts to silence, bully, harass, and intimidate her. The Senate has no right to suspend her; the very same democratic process that brought many of its members to power is the same process through which Natasha was elected. The Senate leadership is merely first among equals and must not wield this power to undermine the representation of the people.
Deji Adeyanju Esq is a Human Rights Lawyer and Managing Partner, DEJI Adeyanju & Partners.
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