The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has called for an investigation into the sexual assault controversy surrounding Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, following damning allegations by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing 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 lamented the growing trend of sexual misconduct allegations against high-ranking officials, recalling that this was not the first time Akpabio had faced such accusations.
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“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.
He further emphasised that Nigeria cannot afford to continue covering up sex scandals involving government functionaries, calling on President Tinubu’s administration to champion accountability and transparency in governance.
In a bold move, the NCSCN has assembled a team of investigative journalists to dig deep into the allegations and present a comprehensive report within a week. The findings, according to Akinlosotu, will be revealed in a highly anticipated World Press Conference scheduled for next week.
Sen. Natasha had earlier made the explosive revelation during an interview on Arise News, alleging that the Senate President frequently called her at odd hours, making persistent advances despite her rejections. She claimed that her refusal to yield to his demands led to hostility and antagonism from Akpabio.
With the civil society community now taking a firm stance on the matter, all eyes are on the upcoming press conference, where damning revelations could shake the nation’s political landscape.
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