Legal experts have applauded Senate President Godswill Akpabio for recusing himself from a presidential panel tasked with investigating sexual harassment allegations levelled by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
They argued that Akpabio’s withdrawal was not only ethically appropriate but also necessary to avoid perceptions of bias or conflict of interest.
The investigative committee, inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, 2025, is chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima. Its mandate is to probe the serious allegations that have stirred public discourse and drawn national attention. Other members include National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, and one nominee each from Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Commenting on the development, prominent lawyer and former President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu, described Akpabio’s move as both commendable and consistent with sound legal judgment.
“He decided not to be part of that committee, because if he is, there will be a serious assumption that he is an interested party. So, the best thing is for him to step down, which is the right thing to do,” Unegbu stated.
Unegbu went further to question the rationale for the panel’s existence, citing broader national challenges.
“For a country like this, with all human and material resources, with so many things available in this country, with good weather, with everything going for us, we are supposed to be a big world economy, a big world power. But unfortunately, because of the type of leaders we have, we are not getting the best out of them. So, my conclusion is that they should close this matter as soon as possible so that the country can make progress,” he remarked.
Echoing similar sentiments, Adedotun Otakumaiya, Principal Partner at Deux Loadstar Chambers in Lagos, commended Akpabio’s decision as a demonstration of respect for the rule of law.
“I personally would say we get carried away by emotions. Because we must be able to separate the legal requirements from political requirements. The legal requirements, which preaches equity, equality and justice. The law says that you have to recuse yourself from a case because you can’t be a judge and jury in your own case,” he maintained.
Otakumaiya also acknowledged the intersection of law and politics, noting the often unregulated nature of political manoeuvring.
“On the other hand, he’s a politician and the political arena is hardly guided by any law. You have to use your connection, your influence to make sure you get the results you want.”
Reflecting on the opacity of political negotiations, he added:
“It’s not impossible for people to come up with a lot of presumption, assumption, negotiation, renegotiation behind doors, outside. A lot of statements like. But nobody actually knows the exact thing that happened behind, after, or on the negotiation table. What we know, what we always get is the end result. Whatever ways that are used in arriving at an end result, we don’t know.”
“The fact is, he is the Senate President, and you can’t take that surface away from him right now. You can’t take the kind of power and influence he has because he is the one that is going to form the committee. He is the one that gives them the instruction that bestows powers upon them. So if I am in that position, I’ll bring people I know I can control. But within the ambit of the law, what he has done is right,” he added.CONTINUE READING
Natasha, suspended for six months in March, had accused Akpabio of attempts to silence her in the Senate as well as sexual advances.
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