By Hauwau Shehu Maikeffi
In Nigeria’s corridors of power, influence is often wielded not just to lead, but to control, suppress, and rewrite narratives. The unfolding drama between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is yet another stark example of how authority is used, not in pursuit of justice, but as a tool to silence dissent.
When Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual assault during an interview on Arise News in February 2025, one would expect a formal investigation. A system that claims to uphold justice should have ensured that due process followed. But instead of addressing the allegation, the Senate turned its focus on punishing the accuser.
By March 6, 2025, the Senate had suspended Natasha for six months, citing reasons that, at best, appear trivial. Refusing to sit in her assigned seat. Speaking out of turn. Making “abusive” remarks about Senate leadership. On the surface, these charges read like procedural misconduct, but the timing raises a deeper question: was this about order, or was it about silencing her?
To add to the layers of suppression, Ekaette Akpabio, the Senate President’s wife, filed a lawsuit demanding an eye-watering N350 billion in damages, claiming Natasha’s accusations caused her and her children severe emotional distress. (The sheer scale of this legal attack raises the question: Is this about seeking justice, or is it a calculated move to financially and psychologically crush an opponent?
Public sentiment on social media is boiling over. Many Nigerians see this as yet another case of power shielding itself while punishing those who dare to challenge it. Questions keep rising: Why was Natasha suspended while Akpabio continues to preside over the Senate, untouched? Why is his wife the one filing lawsuits instead of an independent body investigating the core allegations?
In response, Natasha has countered with a N100 billion lawsuit against Akpabio. But in the chaos of lawsuits and counter-lawsuits, something critical is being lost the truth. What began as a serious allegation of sexual misconduct has now become a power struggle wrapped in legal theatrics.
This is not just about Natasha and Akpabio. It is about the power structures that determine who gets to speak and who is silenced. It is about the weaponization of authority to punish those who challenge it. It is about how justice, in Nigeria, is often not about right or wrong, but about who holds the loudest microphone and the strongest political backing.
What happens next will determine more than just the fate of two politicians. It will either reinforce the public’s distrust in a system that repeatedly protects the powerful, or it will set a precedent that no one regardless of status is beyond accountability.
