Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has called on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) to present concrete evidence to back her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Adeyanju stated that without verifiable proof, Nigerians should not dwell on the matter.

He urged the public to focus on more pressing issues, such as the Tax Reform Bill and its potential impact on low- and middle-income earners.

According to him, solid evidence would lend credibility to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims and warrant public scrutiny of Akpabio’s actions.

However, without such proof, the allegations remain unsubstantiated.

Adeyanju also argued that the controversy had been overflogged and should be resolved in court.

He criticised the selective outrage over the issue, noting that there was little public reaction when lawmakers received luxury cars and budgetary allocations.

According to him, “The matter has been overflogged. I believe that the parties should go to court and resolve their dispute. We should focus on Nigeria’s Tax Reform Bill and explore ways to galvanize opposition against its passage, as that is more important than this internal issue.”

He also questioned why the same senators now engaged in the dispute did not oppose the anti-people policies of the current administration.

“The question I have asked is this: when all these anti-people policies of the Tinubu government were being implemented, why didn’t these senators—who are now fighting over allegations of sexual harassment and concerns about ’embarrassing the Senate’—speak out against them?”

“When lawmakers were sharing cars in the National Assembly, there was no fight. When they were distributing money and budgetary allocations, there was no fight. But now, suddenly, we are hearing about a fight.”

Adeyanju further stated that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan should, as a matter of necessity, make public credible evidence to support her claims, especially since she has been denied a fair hearing in the Senate.

He said, “Senator Natasha has alleged that the Senate President tried to sexually harass her. Since the Senate has refused to give her a fair hearing, she should present credible evidence to back up her claim.”

“It’s very simple. The man has denied the allegation. So, if there are messages—perhaps invitations or suggestive remarks—she should reveal them and expose him. After all, he who alleges must prove.”

Pandemonium struck after a 31-year-old man, identified as Ajayi Nicholas, allegedly slumped and died inside a sex worker’s room at New Kutunku community in Gwagwalada Council Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A resident of New Kutunku, Josiah Gabriel, told Ekwutosblog that the incident happened last Saturday around 5pm when the deceased allegedly checked into a hotel room in the area.

According to him, the man allegedly slumped when he was about to leave the room and the woman rushed to alert the manager of the hotel.

He said the hotel manager identified the deceased and rushed to report the incident to his relations, who are residing within the area.

Gabriel said the deceased was taken to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead.

Meanwhile, the corpse was taken away and deposited at the morgue for autopsy by policemen who arrived the hotel, while the lady in question was detained by the police.

Responding to the bench warrant, the blogger’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, said the singer is only interested in media trial.

The Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of blogger Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), for “criminal defamation” of the reputation of gospel singer, Mercy Chinwo.

The magistrate ordered the Nigeria Police Force together with other law enforcement agencies to arrest VeryDarkMan and bring him to court to answer the allegations levelled against him.

Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna issued the bench warrant on Thursday, March 13, 2025, when VeryDarkMan failed to appear before the magistrate following a court summons on March 5, 2025, for him to do so.

Though VeryDarkMan’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, appealed to the magistrate to rethink the bench warrant and that he would personally produce his client in court, Magistrate Iyanna rejected the appeal and insisted that VeryDarkMan be produced in court by security agencies.

When contacted, Adeyanju told Channels Television that a bench warrant was issued against his client.

“Yes, a bench warrant has been issued against him for failure to show up in court.

“They are just interested in media trial over the matter. They are not interested in prosecuting the matter,” Adeyanju said.

The bench warrant stemmed from alleged defamatory statements made by VDM on social media, accusing Chinwo of involvement in a contractual dispute and the purported diversion of $345,000 linked to her former record label boss, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, also known as Eezee Tee.

In support of her claims, Chinwo furnished the court with documentary evidence, including emails and payment receipts, to substantiate that VDM’s allegations were not only entirely false but damning and injurious to her public image and reputation.

The complainant’s lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, Chinwo said the alleged actions of the defendant are contrary to Sections 391 of the Penal Code and Section 24 (1)(B) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.

Mercy Chinwo and VDM (right).

Recall that Chinwo’s counsel also dragged VDM before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking N1.1bn damages against the blogger.

The lawyer sought an order compelling VDM to delete, retract, and issue a public apology for all allegedly false and defamatory statements made against Chinwo and her brand.