The Director of Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi has called for a thorough independent investigation of the allegations of sexual harassment by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio following the inability of Nigerian authorities to investigate it.
Responding to the ominous silence by the concerned authorities in a statement in Lagos on Sunday, Sanusi explained that Amnesty International is calling 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.
Adding that “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 Director further explained that the National Assembly must not continue to look away while the allegations remain and are being trivialized, unaddressed and ignored.
The international body noted that “blatant failure of the authorities to investigate the allegations raised by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan would have devastating consequences, including 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.
Sanusi observed that this is one case that the authorities can use to show its zero tolerance for sexual harassment no matter the societal status of the person that 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.”
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