Natasha-Akpabio Saga, Distraction From Nigeria’s Real Issues, Says Activist Adeyanju

Human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has described the ongoing dispute between Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, as a diversion from more pressing national issues.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Adeyanju criticised the Senate’s handling of the matter, questioning its priorities amid rising economic challenges in Nigeria.

Adeyanju expressed concern over the lack of attention given to economic struggles affecting ordinary Nigerians, arguing that the controversy in the Senate has overshadowed critical issues such as tax hikes, electricity tariff increases, and rising costs of living. “I wish that more attention is focused on the plight of ordinary Nigerians—the sovereign people of Nigeria. Nigerians are now having to pay more taxes. Nigerians now have to pay more for streaming, for electricity. Electricity is now more expensive than house rent, but people are not showing concern,” he said.

He further pointed out that the Senate has failed to challenge policies that negatively impact citizens, saying, “Since the commencement of the Senate, none of them has shown that they are against the anti-people policies of the Tinubu regime, not Senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), or New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). None of them; they all support the policies.”

Addressing the Natasha-Akpabio saga, Barrister Adeyanju dismissed attempts to frame the dispute as a regional or partisan issue. He insisted that the controversy was driven by personal goals rather than genuine public interest. “A group issued a statement threatening to shut down Nigeria, making it a North versus South issue. This is not about the North and South. This is an issue between Senators,” he said. He also suggested that Natasha’s suspension was influenced by internal power struggles over committee appointments. “Many senators are happy that Natasha was suspended. The reason they gave was that she got a committee she did not deserve—the Local Content Committee,” he noted, questioning why the committee was given to her in the first place if they planned to take it back.

While condemning Natasha’s suspension, Adeyanju criticised the Senate for failing to give her a fair hearing and accused the Senate President of mishandling the matter. “The way the Senate has handled it, especially the Ethics Committee, is extremely shameful. But we must not get carried away by thinking they are fighting for us. They are not. They are fighting for themselves,” he stated. He also noted that Akpabio should have stepped aside from the proceedings, citing past precedents. “Saraki was accused of buying a bulletproof car for himself—he recused himself. If Akpabio had done the same, they still would have gotten the same result. But the truth is, the matter was not handled right.”

Citing similar examples of senators suspended before and reasons behind that, Adeyanju said, “Let me also tell you why the senators always unanimously support suspension, because they all receive ‘mails’, why didn’t anyone support Ndume, or Ningi when he raised an alarm of budget padding in the Senate? Rather they all supported their suspensions.”

On the allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Akpabio, Adeyanju called for credible evidence to be presented. “The man has said she is a liar. If there are messages, maybe a request to meet privately, let her reveal them. After all, the media can help amplify the matter. She said she has witnesses, though some of them have denied it. Let her bring forward the evidence so that we can help her fight the good fight,” he said.

Adeyanju urged Nigerians to shift their focus to more pressing national issues, particularly the recently passed tax reform bills and other economic policies that will significantly impact the middle class. “For me, I believe this matter is becoming a distraction. They have just passed the tax reform bill in the House, and nobody is talking about it. Everybody is focused on this Natasha issue. And I can assure you that is deliberate,” he said. He also highlighted the case of a young boy in Adamawa sentenced to death, lamenting that it has not received the same media attention as the Senate drama. “There is a boy in Adamawa sentenced to death by hanging. That is more important than the Akpabio and Natasha issue. I can tell you for a fact that this boy needs clemency. The media needs to give him the same coverage as the Natasha case.”

He further criticised Natasha’s decision to seek intervention from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) while her case was already in court. “She is a lawyer, and she knows that once a case is in court, every other action taken is subjudice,” Adeyanju stated.