The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has called for a thorough investigation into the sexual assault controversy surrounding Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, following serious allegations by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central District.
In a strongly worded press release issued in Abuja on Friday, the Executive Director of NCSCN, Blessing Akinlosotu, described the scandal as a national embarrassment and a major distraction to legislative governance, demanding a forensic investigation into the matter.
Akinlosotu expressed deep concern over the increasing number of sexual misconduct allegations involving high-ranking officials, recalling that this is not the first time Akpabio has faced such accusations.
“First, it was Joy Nunieh, the former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who publicly accused him of sexual harassment when he served as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. Now, another female public officer is speaking up. These allegations cannot be ignored,” the statement read.
Akinlosotu further stated that Nigeria cannot afford to continue covering up sex scandals involving government officials, urging President Tinubu’s administration to lead the charge for accountability and transparency in governance.
In a decisive move, the NCSCN has assembled a team of investigative journalists to dig into the allegations and produce a comprehensive report within a week. The findings will be revealed at a highly anticipated World Press Conference scheduled for next week.
Senator Natasha had previously made the explosive revelation during an interview on Arise News, where she alleged that the Senate President frequently called her at odd hours, making persistent advances despite her rejections. She claimed that her refusal to comply with his demands led to hostility and antagonism from Akpabio.
With the civil society community now taking a firm stand on the matter, all eyes are on the upcoming press conference, where potentially damning revelations could reshape the nation’s political landscape.
