Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan urges Mrs. Unoma Akpabio to stay out of sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, insisting he should defend himself.
The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has advised Unoma Akpabio, the wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to stay out of the ongoing allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation against her husband.
This dispute arose after Akpoti-Uduaghan declined to sit in a designated seat during a Senate session, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules. Shortly after, she publicly accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment, alleging that he blocked her motions because she refused his advances.
In an interview with Arise Television on Friday, the Kogi lawmaker claimed that rejecting Akpabio’s alleged advances led to persistent harassment and public malignment.
However, in response to these allegations, Unoma Akpabio dismissed the claims as baseless and a “figment of wild imagination.” Speaking to journalists at her Abuja residence, she refuted the allegations and described the relationship between both families as historically cordial.
“The allegations are unfounded, as she was present at her family residence on the alleged date, December 8, 2023,” she stated.
Mrs. Akpabio went further to defend her husband, highlighting his track record of advocating for women’s inclusion in governance. She emphasized that the Senate President is a disciplined man who respects his family and the women he works with.
In her remarks, she urged women to refrain from spreading what she termed “false allegations” and vowed to seek legal redress over the matter.
Amid the escalating tensions, Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, issued a letter dated March 1, 2025, addressed to Mrs. Akpabio. The letter, titled Stay Away from Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sexual Harassment and Intimidation Allegation Against Sen. President Godswill Akpabio; To Safeguard Your Sanity and That of Your Family, stressed that the allegations were personal to the Senate President and that he should be left to defend himself.
The letter read in part:
“Our Client is not desirous of calling you out into the unfortunate saga concerning her allegations against the Senate President and wishes that you restrain yourself from delving into the obscene circumstances. While she has tolerated all the harassment from the Senate President, she was constrained to reveal the unfortunate torture and victimization she has been subjected to in the red chambers under his hand.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan reiterated that she had evidence to substantiate her allegations and insisted that the Senate President must personally address the claims.
In a parallel development, the Senate President, through his media consultant Kenny Okolugbo, denied the allegations leveled against him by the Kogi lawmaker. The official statement described the accusations as a calculated attempt to tarnish Akpabio’s reputation and create unnecessary distractions within the Senate.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s Sexual Harassment Case
Meanwhile, the controversy has sparked reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the rift between the two lawmakers. Additionally, Atiku Abubakar’s aide has criticized Mrs. Akpabio’s involvement, echoing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s stance that the Senate President should personally address the allegations.
Related:
Natasha vs Akpabio: Atiku Calls for Transparent Investigation, Promotes women in Governance
In response to the accusations, Mrs. Akpabio has taken legal action against Akpoti-Uduaghan, demanding N250 billion in damages for defamation. The lawsuit, which has further intensified the dispute, is expected to be one of the most high-profile legal battles in Nigeria’s political sphere this year.
With both parties standing their ground, the controversy surrounding the Senate President continues to unfold, drawing public attention to issues of senate scandal, power dynamics in Nigerian politics, and the role of women in governance.
As the case develops, Nigerians await further revelations, hoping for due process and justice in the matter.
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