Amnesty International Nigeria has called on the Nigerian authorities to investigate allegations of sexual harassment against the president of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that a senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was recently suspended by the senate after alleging that she was sexually harassed by Mr Akpabio.
Responding to the inability of the Nigerian authorities to investigate allegations, Isa Sanusi Director Amnesty International Nigeria 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.”
