In a bold rebuttal that has stirred conversations across legal and civil society circles, human rights activist and former senatorial candidate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has fired back at legal luminary Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), stating firmly that he lacks the authority to demand proof of her sexual harassment claims.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statement comes on the heels of Agbakoba’s recent public comments, in which he urged her to provide concrete evidence for her allegations of sexual misconduct within Nigeria's political sphere—a call many have interpreted as an attempt to question her credibility.
Responding through a public statement, Akpoti-Uduaghan asserted, “Mr. Agbakoba is not a judge, a prosecutor, nor an institutional authority on matters of sexual abuse. His demand for evidence does not come from a place of justice but reeks of patriarchal entitlement masked as legal righteousness.”
She further stressed that sexual harassment is a sensitive issue often met with disbelief and ridicule, which discourages survivors from speaking out. “When senior voices in the legal community attempt to bully survivors into a courtroom of public opinion, it undermines the courage it takes to speak up,” she said.
Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association and one of the country’s most respected legal figures, had earlier weighed in on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public claims, saying that such accusations must be backed by verifiable evidence if they are to be taken seriously.
While some have praised Agbakoba’s stance as a call for due process, others have criticized it as dismissive of the lived experiences of many Nigerian women who suffer in silence due to fear of retaliation and societal stigma.
Women’s rights groups have rallied around Akpoti-Uduaghan, hailing her response as a powerful reminder that survivors are not beholden to unsolicited scrutiny, especially from individuals with no investigative or judicial mandate.
The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) issued a statement saying, “The call for evidence must come from appropriate bodies, not from public figures seeking to invalidate personal narratives. Natasha’s resistance is a stand for all women who’ve been told their voices are not enough.”
This exchange underscores the wider conversation around sexual harassment in Nigeria, especially in politics and the workplace. Many activists argue that survivors are often re-traumatized by the demand to ‘prove’ their experiences before being believed or supported.
“Natasha’s courage is emblematic of a wider fight—for a society that listens first, supports always, and investigates responsibly,” said Ngozi Ijeoma, a gender rights advocate.
While Agbakoba may have sparked the fire, it is Akpoti-Uduaghan’s response that has ignited a much-needed reckoning. In a society where silence is safer than truth, her words echo far beyond this singular debate.
As the nation watches, one message rings clear: the power to tell one's story is not up for debate, and demanding evidence without empathy only serves to deepen the silence.