A senior advocate of Nigeria and former President of Nigeria Bar Association, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has written a second letter to Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, demanding retraction of “her unsubstantiated sexual harassment allegations against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.”

OlisaAgbakoba Legal (OAL) are lawyers to Akpabio.

The lawyer had earlier written a letter to Akpoti-Uduaghan on April 14 and requested the senator, representing Kogi central to provide evidence on her sexual harassment allegations against the senate president.

Recall that the controversial allegation led to the suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan by the senate.

Addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos, Agbakoba said the latest letter became necessary, owing to the fact that the embattled senator had failed to clarify significant contradictions in her allegation against Akpabio, as demanded in his first letter.

He said, instead of clarifying the contradictions in her allegation that Akpabio sexually harassed her on Dec. 8, 2023, and her exaltation of her alleged harasser on her social media accounts on Dec. 9, 2023; Akpoti -Uduaghan deleted the social media post.

The former NBA president said, “Recall that in our first letter to you, we requested clarification of contradictions in your allegation against our client, Akpabio.

“Of note is the contradiction as to timeline and dates. You have failed to clarify your sexual harassment allegation on Dec. 8, 2023 and your exaltation of Akpabio on your social media accounts (Instagram and X/Twitter) on Dec. 9, 2023 – the day after you alleged he sexually harassed you.

“Rather than clarify this contradiction, you deleted the social media post, which to us is extremely concerning.”
The renowned lawyer told journalists that no matter what was said about Akpabio, the duty to prove the allegation rests with the embattled Kogi senator.

Agbakoba also requested Akpoti-Uduaghan to clarify the lengthy timeline it took for her to make the sexual harassment allegation.

“You claim that the sexual harassment occurred on Dec. 8, 2023 but your allegation was not made until Feb. 28 2025. One year and 2 months after?

“Additionally, rather than take up this serious allegation that occurred on Dec.8, 2023, you were seen throughout 2024 at several legislative and non-legislative events (locally and internationally) with Akpabio, your alleged harasser.

“For example, you were seen together at the Inter-Parliamentary Union session in Geneva on March 24 and March 25 2024. In fact, you took several selfies and group photos with him during these events.

“All these events were posted in warm tones by you on your social media platforms. Please see screenshot copies of your Facebook post(s) and other photos you took with Akpabio. We find this contradictory and unbelievable.

“In light of this and having also failed to clarify inconsistencies pointed in our first letter to you, we demand that you retract the sexual harassment allegations against our client as they are clearly false and unsubstantiated,” Agbakoba declared.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s human-oriented style of leadership has earned prominent place in the hearts and minds of people of Kogi State.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Ismaila Isah, stated this while appearing as a guest on Nigeria Info FM in Abuja on Wednesday, adding that Ododo’s ability to bring governance closer to the people of the state is exemplary.

According to Isah, Governor Ododo has earned widespread commendation for consistently running an inclusive administration, where women play key roles and young people occupy more than 80 percent of appointive positions within the government.

He credited the rancour-free political climate in Kogi State to Governor Ododo’s respect for everyone, regardless of political affiliation.

“He consulted widely even before he was sworn in as Governor. He met and engaged with all our former governors and political leaders regardless of their political leanings. He also reached out to community leaders and captains of industry, traveling far and wide across the country to inform them that his administration would be for everyone. Through this, he earned the support of most stakeholders, including those outside his political party.

“Upon assuming office, he has sustained that tradition of inclusivity, reaching out even to members of the opposition. Opposition members are carried along in policy formulation, which is why we have not witnessed the usual tension and rancour,” he said.

Speaking on Governor Ododo’s achievements over the past 14 months, Isah emphasized that the administration has kept faith with its campaign promises.

He explained that Governor Ododo campaigned on four cardinal agenda items: human capital development (focusing on health and education), investment in agriculture and food security, security of lives and property, and infrastructure development.

“Kogi has faced insecurity challenges due to its proximity to nine neighbouring states and the FCT, leading to an influx of criminals. However, the state government has been proactive, working actively to clear them from our environment through collaboration with neighbouring states and the FCT,” he said.

Isah noted that the administration has made infrastructures a priority to avoid the trend of abandoned projects seen in past administrations.

“We have ensured the completion of key road and infrastructural projects initiated by the immediate past government. In Lokoja, for instance, two critical road projects have been completed: the Zone 8 through Barracks, Zango to GYB Junction road (about 9 kilometers), and the Zone 8 to Crusher road (about 5.5 kilometers). Both were commissioned by Vice President Kashim Shettima during Governor Ododo’s first anniversary in office.

“Apart from these, the government is pursuing an ambitious plan to link rural and farming communities with markets by constructing over 200 kilometers of roads, some in partnership with donor agencies like the World Bank. New projects are also being initiated alongside the completion of inherited ones,” he said.

Isah added that township road projects are ongoing across all 21 local government areas in the state, with some already completed and awaiting commissioning.

“Just a few weeks ago, the Governor was in Yagba East and Yagba West, particularly Egbe, where the township road project has been completed and will soon be commissioned. Similar projects are ongoing across all three senatorial districts,” he added.

Isah further stressed the administration’s commitment to education infrastructure.

“At the twilight of the last administration, two universities — the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, and Kogi State University, Kabba were delivered within three years. Upon taking office, Governor Ododo ensured the continued development of these institutions. Over N10 billion has been expended at KSU Kabba alone, with significant progress made in securing accreditation for most courses,” he said.

On security, Isah highlighted the government’s zero tolerance for crime and consistent efforts to strengthen security architecture.

“We have re-jigged our security system, recruited over 2,000 local hunters and expanded the vigilante ranks across the 21 LGAs. We have also provided vehicles, motorcycles, night vision goggles, and other logistics. The community-based approach to security is being sustained,” he said.

Furthermore, the Special Adviser said Governor Ododo is passionate about improving healthcare infrastructure to ensure affordable and accessible services.

“We are revitalizing over 200 primary healthcare centres across the state, with nearly half ready for commissioning,” he stated.

Kaduna state is now battling with huge influx of criminals who specialize in cyber fraud as well as the menace of illegal miners.

The Acting Zonal Director, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, Bawa Usman Kaltungo on Friday visited the Executive Officials of Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) along with his management team on courtesy call where he xpressed gratitude to the NUJ members for the support and cooperation given to the Commission over the years, and pleaded that the support should be sustained for the good of the society.

However, the EFCC Zonal boss disclosed that Visa racketeering, cybercrimes and illegal mining are becoming alarming in Kaduna State, and appealed to journalists to enlighten the general public on the danger of engaging in such crimes and other crimes.

The EFCC Director called on journalists in the State to always feel free to balance their stories from the Commission to avoid damaging the image and reputation of the Commission whenever the need raises.

“It is part of our routine that whenever a new Zonal Director is appointed we come on courtesy visit to our strategic partners of which NUJ is one of them. It is a thank you visit and to ask for more support like Oliver Twist.

The collaboration that is existing between NUJ and EFCC cannot be separated. So we are here to say thank you for all that you have been doing and to encourage you that if there is any report that will portray the Commission in bad image, you can reach out to us so that you can have a balance report. So this is the essence of our coming to you.

“You are going to look out for a renewed vigour in the fight against corruption, and this issue of cybercrimes that our youths are indulged in, is becoming alarming. So the Commission is devising new strategy to nib it in the bud.

“So we don’t want it to spread because if youths who are the leaders of tomorrow and today they are engaged in corruption, so what does it mean tomorrow, does it mean that corrupt people will be in position of leadership tomorrow. It means that there will be no development and progress. It is now incumbent on us to nib it in the bud.

“Another trend that we discovered in Kaduna that is alarming is the issue of Visa racketeering, more especially during lesser Hajj and during pilgrimage, what we call Baban Sallah. You find out that alot of people have been duped of their hard earned money in the name of Visa by traveling agents, in the name of international passport and stuff like that. So many people have parted with their money without getting value for it. It is alarming in Kaduna State. And to worsening it, even married women are involved in it.

“So we want to use this opportunity to appeal to couples to advise their fellow couple to desist from such act because it is not our wish to go and arrest married woman but when she got herself involved, definitely the law does not say that married men or women have immunity, we will go after them. So we want to call on the people of Kaduna State and Niger State to make sure that people are not involved in anything that will attract us to them.

“Another area that is so disturbing which has terrorism related to, and banditry related to, is the issue of illegal mining which is becoming alarming. Everybody want to go into illegal mining. You cannot go into mining without appropriate documents from appropriate authorities. Mining is exclusive preserve of the federal government. So for any company and for any individual to go into mining they must obtain licence from the federal ministry of mining. You cannot go on your own and start doing mining.

“We want to call on the people that are into illegal mining to make sure that they obtain proper license so that they will not incur the wrath of the Commission because by the time we arrest you doing illegal mining, certainly we will take you to Court. And we have been doing that. We want to thank NUJ for the support. And also call on NUJ to continue to corporate with us and support to enlighten the public about what we do and let them understand what we do at the Commission” Kaltungo said.

In his welcome address, Alabelewe said, I want to assure you on behalf of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State council that as media practitioners we don’t have option than to support what EFCC is doing because by our training we are socially responsible to the society and as well hold public officers accountable to members of the society. We have enjoyed good working relationship with Kaduna Directorate of the EFCC over the years through the media department.”