By Philip Nwosu
A prominent legal scholar, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, has cautioned Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, (SAN) over his public interventions in the ongoing sexual harassment controversy involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In the letter dated April 30, 2025, Dr. Jaja accused Agbakoba of engaging in “public posturing” that risks serious legal and reputational consequences. According to him, Agbakoba’s repeated media appearances concerning the matter could undermine ongoing judicial proceedings and constitute violations of key legal principles.
Citing three foundational doctrines—double jeopardy, sub judice, and clean hands—Dr. Jaja contended that the issue had already been deliberated and dismissed by the Senate Committee on Ethics. He emphasized that the panel was chaired by a legal professional and included senior lawyers such as Dr. Monday Ubani (SAN). Reopening the matter, Jaja warned, could amount to a constitutional infraction of Senator Natasha’s rights, as it would subject her to “trial” for the same matter twice.
> “Your interventions should be before a competent court, not in public opinion campaigns,” Dr. Jaja wrote, challenging Agbakoba’s decision to air his views in the media despite the matter being sub judice.
The legal scholar, who trained under Mr. Chinonye Obiagwu (SAN) and currently practices in the Kingdom of Lesotho, also accused Agbakoba of hypocrisy. He questioned how Akpabio—through his lawyers—could seek justice in court while allegedly denying fairness to others in his role as Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
“Your client seeks equity yet fails to deliver it,” Jaja argued, suggesting that any credible campaign for public vindication must begin with Akpabio addressing alleged internal procedural breaches, including what he described as an illegal six-month suspension of Senator Natasha.
Referencing Senate Standing Orders, Dr. Jaja insisted that legislative suspensions are capped at 14 days, rendering Natasha’s suspension both legally and morally indefensible. He criticized what he called a “conciliatory approach” by Agbakoba and urged the senior advocate to advise his client to correct the procedural wrongs before advocating reconciliation.
Concluding his letter, Dr. Jaja invoked the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” He warned Agbakoba not to allow pride or political loyalty to override objectivity and legal caution, stressing that even the most seasoned advocates can face reputational damage when they wade into politically sensitive cases without due restraint.