The Senator representing Kogi Central at the Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has called on Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to stay out of the allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation against her husband.
The dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio began after she refused to sit in a designated seat during a Senate session, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules.
Tensions escalated further when she appeared on Arise News on Friday, accusing the Akpabio of blocking her motions, maligning her, and intimidating her after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances.
In response, Mrs Akpabio held a press conference in Abuja, dismissing the allegations against her husband.
She asserted that both families had shared a cordial relationship for years, long before Akpoti-Uduaghan’s marriage, and suggested that the claims were baseless.
However, in a letter dated March 1, 2025, addressed to Mrs Akpabio through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, Akpoti-Uduaghan advised her to refrain from getting involved in the matter.
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 accusations were personal to the Senate President and that he should be left to defend himself.
‘He’s disciplined,’ Akpabio’s wife defends husband, dismisses Natasha’s harassment claim
Akpoti-Uduaghan said she had endured harassment from Akpabio but was now compelled to speak out.
It said, in part, “Our Client does not desire to involve you in this unfortunate saga against the Senate President, and requests that you refrain from delving into the obscene circumstances. Despite enduring intimidation from the Senate President, she felt compelled to expose her experiences of torture and victimisation in the red chambers. As a result, we would like to say that our client’s charges are personal to the Senate President, and our client feels that the Senate President has the competence to defend himself and deny any of these allegations against him.”
She said she has enough evidence to back up her claims, urging the wife to allow her husband to defend himself for the sake of her sanity and family.
“Our client has concrete evidence to substantiate her allegations. We will suggest that you leave the defense of the allegations for the Senate President to maintain your sanity and that of your family.
“Our client remains resolute in the defense of Nigerian women and as a family woman, she will continue to maintain our common heritage and family values.
