Tonye Jaja, a legal practitioner, has faulted Olisa Agbakoba, the human rights lawyer, over his comments in the ongoing sexual harassment controversy involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central.
In an open letter dated April 30, Jaja accused Agbakoba of prioritising media posturing over legal process.
He warned that the senior lawyer’s continued public commentary could carry serious legal and reputational consequences for both himself and his client.
Jaja, who practices law in the Kingdom of Lesotho, anchored his position on three legal doctrines—double jeopardy, sub judice, and clean hands.
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He argued that the matter had already been investigated and dismissed by the senate committee on ethics, which was chaired by a legal professional and included other senior advocates, such as Monday Ubani.
Any further push to reopen the matter, he warned, could constitute a constitutional violation of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right not to be subjected to trial twice for the same issue.
“Your interventions should be before a competent court, not in public opinion campaigns,” Jaja said, referencing lawsuits filed by Akpabio’s wife seeking over N300 billion in damages from the Kogi senator.
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Jaja also condemned the six-month suspension handed to Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing it as both legally flawed and morally indefensible.
He argued that senate standing orders permit a maximum suspension of just 14 days and called on Agbakoba to advise Akpabio to address that procedural violation before preaching reconciliation.
Jaja urged Agbakoba to resist the pull of pride and professional ambition in navigating the highly charged legal and political terrain.
“Even the most seasoned advocates are not immune to reputational fallout when they abandon caution and objectivity,” he added.
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The dispute between the senate president and the Kogi central senator has continued to generate reactions, with legal, political, and ethical implications unfolding.
In a letter dated April 14, Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), asked Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide evidence supporting her claim that Akpabio sexually harassed her on December 8, 2023.
The senior advocate Nigeria (SAN) also demanded a retraction of her sexual harassment allegation against the senate president.
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