Amnesty International Nigeria has called for an immediate, independent, and impartial investigation into allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, in a statement on Saturday, said the weight and scale of the allegations of sexual harassment are one more pressing reason for establishing an independent, resourceful and impartial investigation.

Sanusi added that the National Assembly must not continue to look away while the allegations remain and are being bizarrely trivialized, unaddressed and ignored.

He also warned that inaction could perpetuate a culture of impunity and silence surrounding sexual harassment in the country while allowing perpetrators to get away with gross human rights violations.

Sanusi also claimed that this is one case that the Nigerian authorities can use to show that there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment ? no matter who is involved.

He stated; ?Amnesty International calls 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. The weight and scale of the allegations of sexual harassment are one more pressing reason for establishing an independent, resourceful and impartial investigation. The National Assembly must not continue to look away while the allegations remain and are being bizarrely trivialized, unaddressed and ignored.?

?Blatant failure of the authorities to investigate the allegations raised by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will have wider devastating consequences, that include 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. This is one case that the Nigerian authorities can use to show that there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment ? no matter who 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.? (The Guardian)

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