•Isa Sanusi
Amnesty International has said the allegation Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan levelled against Senate President Goodwill Akpabio must be investigated.
The human rights group said this while responding to the development rocking the senate, reports Sunday Trust.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had accused Nigeria’s number three citizen of depriving of her rights to represent her people after she rejected sexual advances from Akpabio.
Natasha said Akpabio had been denying her the opportunity to contribute to debates and table matters affecting her constituents on the floor of the senate.
However, while she was suspended for six months over “unruly conduct”, Akpabio had carried on with his duties despite growing calls for probe.
In a statement signed by Amnesty International, Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, director of the organisation, said, “Amnesty International calls on the Nigerian authorities to immediately institute an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio.
“The weight and scale of the allegations of the sexual harassment are one more pressing reason for establishing an independent, resourceful and impartial investigation.
The National Assembly must not continue to look away while the allegations remain and are being trivialized, unaddressed and ignored.
“Blatant failure of the authorities to investigate the allegations raised by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will have devastating consequences, that include perpetuating a system that makes it increasingly difficult for survivors of sexual harassment to get justice, while allowing perpetrators to get away with gross human rights violations. This is one case that the authorities can use to show that there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment – no matter who is involved.
“The fear of not being believed, or even being blamed, is already creating a dangerous culture of silence that prevents women who faced sexual harassment from seeking justice. The tide of sexual impunity against women and girls must be turned now.”
