Senate President Godswill Akpabio has refuted the allegations of sexual harassment made against him by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, lawmaker representing Kogi central.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances towards her during a visit to his home in Akwa Ibom state on December 8, 2023.
The lawmaker alleged that the Akpabio implied she should “take care” of him if she wanted favourable treatment in the red chamber.
On March 1,Ekaette Akpabio, wife of the senate president, filed multiple lawsuits against Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged defamatory comments made against her husband.
Speaking during an event to mark International Women’s Day at the senate, Akpabio said the accusations only emerged after a reshuffle of seating arrangements and committee assignments in the upper chamber.
The senate president claimed that before the changes, neither he, his wife, nor Akpoti-Uduaghan’s husband had heard any accusations.
“It’s only yesterday that I realized that what we are talking about happened only after the change of seat in the senate. That is when hell was let loose and all sorts of allegations came up,” Akpabio said.
“Only after the change of seat and change of committee which my senators know happen from time to time. And it was said to have happened on the 8th of December – a day to my birthday which was celebrated in the stadium in 2023.
“So, from 8th of December, 2023, I never heard, my wife never heard, no Nigerian ever heard, even the husband never heard any issue of sexual harassment, until her committee was changed and then, her seat was changed and she went on.”
The senate president said that the case was now before the judiciary and should be left for legal resolution.
“Have you ever wondered the trauma caused by that same woman on the other people she has accused in the past? None has been proven so far,” Akpabio added.
“Let me just say that time will tell. We are in court; the court will decide.”
Akpabio has previously been accused of sexual harassment by Joi Nunieh, former acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who made the allegations in 2020.
